Man Held On Aggravated DUI Charges In Crash That Killed Driver, Injured Passenger In Lombard

LOMBARD, IL — An Elgin man is being held in DuPage County Jail after police say he was intoxicated during a crash in Lombard that killed Laura O'Keefe, 35, and hurt one of her passengers.

Dwayne Rushing, 48, is accused of having a blood alcohol concentration of .116 when he rear-ended another car, went around that car and over a grassy area and then struck the car O'Keeffe was driving.

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Lombard police were called to the scene of the crash in the 2800 block of Highland Road around 5:25 p.m. Police say they arrived to find O'Keefe's and Rushing's cars with extensive damage.

O'Keefe was taken to a local hospital, where she was treated for traumatic brain injuries and put on life support. She died on May 12.

Her passenger was hospitalized in intensive care with serious injuries.

According to prosecutors, officers smelled a "strong odor of alcohol" on Rushing and observed he was moving unsteadily They also reported finding an open BuzzBallz drink on the driver's seat of his car.

"Like all alleged DUI cases, the case against Mr. Rushing was 100 precent avoidable," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

Berlin added, "What I find particularly egregious are the allegations that Mr. Rushing was driving drunk on Mother's Day near the Yorktown Mall at dinner time, where hundreds, if not thousands of people were celebrating the holiday together. As I have said many times before, if you have been drinking, do not get behind the wheel of a car. Call a friend, a cab or use a ride sharing services to make sure you and your passengers get to your destination safely.

He then expressed his sympathy for O'Keefe's family, saying he wishes them "strength as they adjust to of life without the love and support Laura once offered.

He also shared well wishes for O'Keefe's recovering passenger.

Rushing is scheduled for another court appearance on June 8.