Snowplow driver charged in death

A snowplow driver was drunk Sunday morning when his truck rammed into two pedestrians near downtown Woodstock, killing one, authorities said Monday.

Antonio Escorza, 37, of Woodstock faces charges of aggravated driving under the influence, failure to stop at the scene of an accident and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident in connection with the 2 a.m. crash, authorities said.

Escorza, arrested about two blocks from the crash site and transferred to the McHenry County jail, appeared in court on the charges Monday morning, where a judge set his bond at $203,000.

Killed in the crash was Christopher Foat, 23, of Woodstock. The second man hit, Jeffrey P. Combs, 24, of Woodstock, was treated for injuries at Centegra Memorial Medical Center in Woodstock and later released.

Woodstock police say Escorza was driving a pickup truck with a snowplow attached when it struck the two men from behind was they walked on the 500 block of North Clay Street. The truck, police said, then drove away from the scene, but a witness followed it on foot and directed officers to a residence about two blocks away where it and Escorza were located.

Authorities believe Escorza and the two men he is accused of hitting were leaving a nearby tavern when the crash occurred. It does not appear Escorza operated his snowplow on behalf of municipality or other government agency, First Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Thomas Carroll said.

Escorza, who remained in custody at the county jail Monday, is scheduled to return to court Dec. 11. If convicted of all charges, he could face up to 14 years in prison.