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Officer: Family of driver in fatal crash did not disclose health issues

Family members of a Mundelein man did not disclose he was suffering from mental health issues after he intentinally caused a car crash that killed a 24-year-old woman in 2012, a Round Lake police officer testified Wednesday.

Defense attorneys have argued that Mark Oelerich, 23, was mentally ill when he crossed the Cedar Lake Road centerline in Round Lake and slammed into a Nissan just after 9 p.m. on Nov. 21. The crash killed Araceli Villasenor, of Round Lake Beach, and injured her three children.

Oelerich faces up to 60 years in prison if found guilty at trial this week of first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs resulting in death for the crash. He remains in Lake County jail on $1 million bail.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorneys Michael Ori and Ben Dillon have said Oelerich deserves to be found guilty of murder because he intentionally caused the crash while high on synthetic cannabis and a psychedelic drug.

Defense attorneys Elliot Pinsel and Steven Weinberg have said Oelerich had been suffering from "delusions" and "paranoia" for months before the crash.

Police Officer Brandon Gullifor testified Wednesday that he was one of "six or seven officers" who helped subdue Oelerich after he walked away from the Thanksgiving night crash site.

After being taken into custody, Oelerich fought with paramedics and had to be handcuffed to the stretcher during an ambulance ride to a McHenry hospital, Gullifor testified.

Oelerich was suffering from psychological issues or was under the influence of narcotics, Gullifor testified, but he focused on drugs after speaking with Oelerich's parents.

"At that point, I ruled out psychological issues to explain his behavior and moved onto narcotics," Gullifor testified.

In rebuttal, Weinberg pointed out to the jury that Gullifor had limited training on psychological issues.

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