Texas Man Charged With Drunk Driving in Fatal I-294 Crash

HICKORY HILLS, IL -- A Texas man was arrested following a crash that caused the death of a backseat passenger after he drove over an embankment exiting I-294 near Hickory Hills, prosecutors said.

Michael Thurber, 29, of Minnie, Texas, was charged with aggravated DUI causing a death. Thurber appeared in court in a wheelchair.

According to the charges, around 4 a.m. Sept. 5, Thurber was behind the wheel of a 2006 Crown Victoria that was traveling southbound on I-294. As he was exiting at 95th Street, police said he went down an embankment and crashed on to the ramp from 76th Street that leads to I-294 near Hickory Hills.

Thurber was in the driver’s seat and the passenger was in the backseat. The prosecutor said Thurber had to be extricated from the vehicle. Thurber and the male passenger, who was also from Texas, were both taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

The passenger, Anthony C. Urbina, 30, of Arlington, TX, succumbed to his injuries, the Chicago Tribune reported at the time of the accident. Thurber was also seriously injured in the accident.

An initial test taken at the hospital indicated that Thurber allegedly had a blood alcohol content of .16, although final lab results are pending. Thurber does not have a valid Texas driver’s license, court records said.

The prosecutor said Thurber has a prior DUI in Texas from 2007.

Thurber’s attorney called the accident a “tragic situation.” The attorney said the deceased’s mother harbored “no ill will against Mike.” Thurber suffered a fractured vertebrae, elbow, hip, clavicle, and has nerve damage on the left side of his body. He is unable to use his left hand and suffers short term memory loss, his attorney told the judge.

Cook County Judge Donald Havis asked where Thurber would go if he bonded out. Thurber’s attorney sad his client’s mother was here from Texas and is looking for an apartment in the area.

Bail was set at $50,000. Thurber is due back in court Oct. 11 in Bridgeview.

Burbank Beat contributed to this report.