Police officer charged with DUI in crash that killed 2, injured 1

A Chicago police officer was charged with drunk driving Thursday in connection with an early morning two-vehicle crash that killed two men and injured another on the city's North Side.

John Ardelean, 33, a five-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, was off duty at the time of the crash. He was charged with misdemeanor DUI and driving left of center, according to Chicago police spokesman Hector Alfaro.

The crash happened just before 3 a.m., Alfaro said.

Ardelean's was driving a sport utility vehicle that crashed into a sedan carrying Erick Lagunas, 21, Miguel Flores, 22, and a third man.

Lagunas, who was ejected from the sedan, was later pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Flores was pronounced dead at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The third man was taken in serious condition to Cook County's Stroger Hospital, according to Chicago police spokeswoman Amina Greer. Greer did not identify the man or have further details on his condition.

A telephone listing for Ardelean could not be located Thursday.

A message left late Thursday by the Associated Press for the Fraternal Order of Police was not immediately returned.

Sgt. Eugene Mullins said Thursday he did not know Ardelean's blood-alcohol level.

"That's not available now. We don't know exactly what happened," Mullins said. "We don't have the particulars. That's all under investigation."

Ardelean is due in traffic court Jan. 23.