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Tests show driver who killed 3 Arlington Heights residents was drunk

The driver of a Mercedes-Benz that struck and killed three Arlington Heights family members in February was drunk - with a blood alcohol content almost three-times the legal limit - toxicology results released Thursday revealed.

Piotr Rog, 21, was driving 135 mph on Northwest Highway in Des Plaines on Feb. 16 when his vehicle struck a Chevy Impala carrying Kevin and Anita Crawford and their 20-year-old daughter, Kirsten. All four died in the crash.

Toxicology results released Thursday showed Rog had a blood alcohol level of .216, Des Plaines Police Chief Bill Kushner said.

"It puts to rest our investigation because now we know what the blood alcohol content was, and the driver of the other car had nothing in his system. His BAC was 0," he said.

The Crawfords were traveling to a soccer game at the nearby Lattof YMCA when their vehicle was struck head on by the Mercedes near the entrance of the YMCA. A 26-year-old passenger in the Mercedes-Benz survived the crash with a traumatic brain injury.

A reconstruction of the crash showed the massive force of the impact caused the Crawford's Impala to spin for nearly 200 feet before striking another vehicle. The Mercedes-Benz traveled 185 feet.

The Crawfords left behind two younger children.

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Piotr Rog
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