Pedestrian Killed By Alleged Drunk Driver In West Chicago

A 36-year-old man was struck and killed in West Chicago Monday by a man police allege was driving under the influence of alcohol.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and West Chicago Chief of Police Colin Fleury announced Tuesday that Judge Joshua Dieden denied the State’s motion to detain pre-trial a West Chicago man charged with two counts of Aggravated DUI Causing Death, a Class 2 Felony.

At approximately 2:36am Monday, officers with the West Chicago Police Department responded to the area of Roosevelt Road and Pearl Road for a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian. Upon their arrival, officers found the victim, Miguel Duran, 36, lying face down in the roadway. He was not breathing and was bleeding from the head.

Duran was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Police allege that the suspect was traveling westbound on Roosevelt Road in his 2011 Jeep Liberty when hit allegedly hit Duran with his vehicle as Duran we attempted to cross. When he was speaking with officers at the scene, officers allegedly detected an odor of alcohol as well as glassy and blood shot eyes. It is alleged that at the time of the crash his BAC was 0.11. When searching his vehicle, officers found a can of Monaco, a canned alcoholic cocktail, behind the front passenger seat of the vehicle.

“Like all alleged DUI cases, the case against [the suspect] was 100% avoidable,” Berlin said. “I offer my sincerest condolences to Miguel Duran’s family and friends as they grieve their loss and wish them strength as they adjust to their lives without Miguel’s love and friendship. As I have said countless times in the past, if you have been drinking, do not drive. With ride-sharing services available with just the touch of a finger at any time day or night, there is absolutely no reason to drive after you have been drinking, yet people still continue to get behind the wheel when they know full well, they should not. Please, do yourself a favor and call a cab or use a ride-sharing service if you have been drinking.”

The suspect’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 13, 2024, for arraignment in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell.