Driver Charged In Fatal Tinley DUI Crash Was Driving 128mph: Prosecutor

TINELY PARK, IL -- An Oak Forest man was traveling at 128 mph down Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park when he allegedly struck a parked car and killed its 20-year-old passenger early Tuesday morning, prosecutors said. Joseph Vorberg, 37, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on a felony charge of aggravated DUI causing death. More felony charges may be forthcoming, the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor said that Vorberg had been drinking at the Odyssey Sweet Spot in Tinley Park and another bar called Club O in Harvey before he climbed behind the wheel of his 2016 Cadillac ATS. Alberto Reyes and his father, Ciro Reyes-Ramirez, were arriving for work and had just parked their Geo Prius in the 17200 block of Oak Park Avenue around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday. Traveling in the northbound lane of Oak Park Avenue, where the posted speed limit is 35mph, Vorberg plowed into the back the Reyes’ small passenger car from behind, the prosecutor said. Police said the impact of the crash pushed the Prius 200 feet and into a light pole, killing Reyes and injuring his father.

A witness saw Vorberg abandon his vehicle and take off on foot, the prosecutor said. Tinley Park police reportedly found Vorberg a half-hour later, hiding behind a semi-truck that was parked behind Old Tinley Pub in the 17000 block of Oak Park Avenue. The prosecutor said the witness positively identified Vorberg as the driver of the Cadillac.

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Alberto Reyes, who is from Midlothian, was pronounced dead at the scene. His father was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was treated for facial injuries. Vorberg was also treated for non-life threatening injuries at South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest. He had a blood alcohol content of .250, the prosecutor said.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Vorberg is a heavy equipment operator and has attended Moraine Valley Community College.

Vorberg has past arrests for trespassing from 2011 and a 2008 arrest for criminal damage to property. He’s also had speeding violations in 2016 and 2017, the prosecutor said.

“So he’s three times the legal limit for alcohol and was driving five times the legal speed limit — allegedly,” Felice said. “There’s no question that he needs to be detained.”

Felice set bail at $1 million. Vorberg was also ordered to submit to random drug and alcohol testing and to sign up for Smart Start, a program that monitors people for alcohol use via a smartphone, should he bond out.

“Do you have a smartphone?” Felice asked Vorberg.

“I don’t know what I have,” Vorberg said. “I wouldn’t be driving anyways.”

“I find you to be a danger to yourself and the community,” Felice said.

In addition the felony aggravated DUI, Vorberg was also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to give aid/information at an accident, improper lane usage and failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident. If convicted of the felony charge, Vorberg faces 3 to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Vorberg is due back in court Nov. 2 in Bridgeview.