He Drove Drunk, Killing Braidwood Motorist: Police

JOLIET, IL - A 27-year-old man from St. Peters, Missouri is expected to face more serious criminal charges in connection with an Aug. 9 rear-end collision along Interstate 55, Illinois State Police said Wednesday. News of the additional charges comes in light of this week's death of the other motorist, 60-year-old Michael DeBoard of Braidwood. Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil announced that DeBoard died on Monday at a Joliet hospital, where he remained in intensive care since the horrific wreck.

According to state police, Lucas M. Roth of Missouri was under the influence of alcohol when he caused the crash. Around 2:20 a.m. DeBoard was traveling northbound on I-55 in the left lane when Roth came upon him and rear-ended his vehicle near the Bluff Road exit. The posted speed limit is 65 mph, police said. The impact sent DeBoard's 1997 Ford Aspire off the right side of I-55. He hit an embankment and rolled over.

Roth's 2014 Kia Optima veered off to the left, where he went into a ditch. Roth was later treated and released at a Joliet hospital for minor injuries. From there, Roth was booked into the Will County Adult Detention Facility on felony charges of aggravated DUI involving bodily injury, DUI, failure to reduce speed, improper traffic lane usage and no valid registration.

Roth's bond was set at $50,000 after the crash. He spent two days in Will County's jail before posting $5,000 cash, or 10 percent, to remain free pending future court appearances. Police said Roth lives in the 700 block of Cougar Creek Trail, in St. Peters, which is a four-hour drive, 205 miles, from the site of the deadly collision. Other Will County court records show that Roth previously lived in Homer Glen.

Funeral visitation for the victim, Braidwood resident Michael DeBoard, will take place on Sunday at the Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington. Burial is set for Monday.

Booking mugshot of Lucas Roth via Will County Sheriff's Department