Female Driver Charged After One of Her Passengers Dies in Drunk Driving Accident

RACINE - A 35-year-old Racine woman faces prison time after police say she drove drunk and under the influence of drugs in a single-vehicle crash that killed one of her passengers.

Police responded to the 1100 block of Marquette St. early morning on June 25 on a report that a gray Ford Explorer crashed into a telephone pole with Silas and two passengers reportedly trapped inside the vehicle, police said.

According to an eyewitness, Silas' vehicle "took off" at a high rate of speed from a traffic light at Marquette and State streets. A passenger in the vehicle admitted the vehicle was reaching speeds approaching 50-60 miles per hour as Silas drove northbound on Marquette Street, the complaint said.

An eyewitness said the Explorer continued at a fast speed before it fishtailed, spun and collided with a utility pole, police said.

The passenger went on to say that they were at a birthday party where Silas was consuming alcohol prior to the accident, the complaint said.

According to her criminal complaint, the two passengers were transported from the scene to the Froedtert Medical Center via Flight for Life with serious injuries where one of the passengers was pronounced dead from an acute pulmonary thromboembolism suffered as a result of the accident.

Silas was reportedly transported to the hospital, before being transported via Flight for Life to Froedtert, police said.

According to her complaint, police obtained results from a blood draw and learned she had a BAC of 0.163 - more than twice the legal limit. Results also revealed the presence of opiates in her system.

Lakiara N. Silas has been charged with Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle, Homicie by Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration, intoxicated use of a vehicle - great bodily harm and great bodily harm by use of a vehicle.

Silas faces up to 45 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines if she is convicted.

Silas is being held on a $25,000 cash bond. Her next hearing is July 20.