$45M Awarded to Family of Mom Killed In Crash

LAKE COUNTY, IL -- A Lake County judge this past week awarded a $45 million verdict to the family of a 24-year-old Round Lake Beach woman killed in a crash in 2012. Araceli Villasenor died in the Nov. 21, 2012, collision after Mark Oelerich crossed the centerline on Cedar Lake Road near Route 120 in Round Lake. Authorities say Oelerich purposely swerved into Villasenior's lane after receiving signs from God that he was invincible, the Daily Herald reports.

Oelerich was sentenced in November 2014 to 24 years in prison on a first-degree murder charge, according to the Daily Herald.

The $45 million award to Villasenor's family is one of the largest in Lake County courts' history for a wrongful death case, according to a news release from the law firm, Baizer Kolar Neiman P.C., that represented the plaintiff. All three of Villasenior's children were all under the age of 4 years old and in her vehicle at the time of the crash. The children were injured but survived.

“This car crash should have never happened,” said the plaintiffs’ attorney, David A. Neiman, a partner at Baizer Kolar Neiman P.C. “No judge or jury should ever have to hear a case like this. Mark Oelerich’s outrageous conduct needlessly ruined the lives of this innocent family, leaving three young children to live a life without the love and guidance of their mother."

Oelerich was also sentenced to a charge of aggravated driving under the influence and sentenced to 14 years in prison, a sentence that will be served concurrent to his murder sentence, according to the Daily Herald.

Oelerich was driving at speeds over 65 mph when he collided with Villasenor's vehicle. She was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center where she died a short time later.