Crime & Safety
Driver Admits He Was In Bar Drinking Before Fatal Crash: Police
An Oak Forest man accused of triggering a fatal chain reaction crash told police he had been drinking in a bar, prosecutor said.
OAK FOREST, IL — An Oak Forest man admitted to drinking in a bar moments before he triggered a chain reaction crash that left a 46-year-old man dead, prosecutors said. Robert Aguilar, 44, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on charges of aggravated DUI causing a death, and reckless homicide.
The crash happened at 8:31 p.m. Nov. 1 on Cicero Avenue near 159th Street in Oak Forest. The prosecutor said that Aguilar blew a red light as he was headed southbound on Cicero Avenue driving 65mph in a 35mph speed zone. Aguilar reportedly almost hit another vehicle before he rear ended a vehicle driven by 46-year-old Dominic L. Bellamy-Palma, of Manhattan.
>>> 1 Dead, Another Charged With DUI In Crash At 159th And Cicero
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The impact of the crash pushed the Manhattan man’s into a Ford Flex occupied by several young children, the prosecutor said. Aguilar’s vehicle is said to have fishtailed into the opposite lane of oncoming traffic.
According to witnesses, Aguilar got out of his vehicle, where he appeared “unsteady and intoxicated.” The prosecutor said Aquilar tried to run away but was detained by onlookers.
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Bellamy-Palma was pronounced dead at the scene. The occupants of the Ford Flex, including multiple children, and Aguilar were taken to Palos Community Hospital. A blood draw was taken from Aguilar, which indicated a .217 blood-alcohol content, the prosecutor said.
Oak Forest police said Aguilar admitted to drinking at a bar prior to the crash.
Aguilar’s license was revoked for a 2oo4 DUI. He also has a domestic battery conviction and was cited twice for driving without a license. Aguilar’s attorney told the judge that Aguilar is the main breadwinner for his family and asked for an I-bond. Numerous family members and friends were in court to support him.
“There’s a death here,” Felice said.
“It wasn’t on purpose,” Aguilar’s attorney said.
Bail was set at $500,000. Aquilar is to remain on home confinement and electronic monitoring should he bond out of jail.
Aguilar is due back in court on Nov. 27 in Bridgeview.
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