Woman who killed daughter in DUI arrested a third time
Nearly six years ago, an intoxicated Polly M. Myers ran her car into a ditch in LaSalle County, killing her 11-month-old daughter.
Myers pleaded guilty to reckless homicide for the May 27, 2002, crash -- her second drunken driving conviction since 1995.
Prosecutors allege she still hasn't learned. The 33-year-old Westmont woman is being held on a $100,000 bond in the DuPage County jail after a third DUI arrest that involved driving near children on a soccer field.
Myers, who also uses the last name Vasek, had a valid license when arrested Nov. 13 in Clarendon Hills. Officials said she never lost her license because the reckless homicide was not listed on her state driving record.
Secretary of State officials revoked her license Wednesday after learning of the fatal crash. LaSalle County failed to notify the state agency, according to Beth Kaufman, a spokeswoman for the office.
"Our role is record keeper," she said. "The court has to notify us of the offense. If we do not get notified, we have no way of knowing."
The mistake was uncovered after Myers' latest arrest in Clarendon Hills when a prosecutor reviewed other official records, spotted the reckless homicide and notified a superior.
Myers was re-arrested Jan. 3 after prosecutors -- armed with the full driving history -- upgraded the misdemeanor DUI to a felony.
"Alcoholism is an extremely addictive disease," said DuPage State's Attorney Joseph Birkett, whose office last year confiscated a record 800 cars from chronic offenders. "If you allow these drivers to have keys in their hands, they're going to continue to drink and drive."
In seeking the high bond earlier this month, prosecutor Michael Pawl detailed in court Myers' latest arrest. He said police responded Nov. 13 to a 911 call alerting them to a motorist driving erratically near a soccer field filled with children in Clarendon Hills. The caller provided the license plate number of an older-model station wagon.
Pawl said Myers was listed as the registered owner. Police went to her home, where the officer learned she left to go to a Chinese restaurant.
Within minutes, police received another 911 call alerting them to a reckless driver, again in an older-model station wagon, who fled after striking a parked car. Pawl said police arrested Myers near her home.
Court records indicate Myers had a blood-alcohol level of .287, more than three times above the legal threshold of .08. She pleaded innocent earlier this week when arraigned before DuPage Circuit Judge Perry Thompson.
She received court supervision after pleading guilty to her first drunken-driving arrest Oct. 6, 1995, in DuPage County. Years later, May 27, 2002, she was charged with aggravated reckless homicide in LaSalle County for the fatal crash that killed her daughter, Athena. Authorities said she was twice the legal limit.
"One independent witness who was driving behind her saw her go through a traffic control device while speeding, lose control and end up in a ditch," Pawl said. "They saw something fly out of the vehicle that they thought to be a doll."
Myers pleaded guilty to aggravated reckless homicide charges March 6, 2003, in LaSalle County and, five months later, was sentenced to four years' probation and 60 days in jail and was ordered to continue with alcohol counseling.
She is due in court again Feb. 21. Birkett said he is reviewing the case to determine the possible penalties.
Myers' former defense attorney in the reckless homicide case, as well as the LaSalle County state's attorney and circuit clerk offices, were unavailable for comment late Wednesday. A phone message left at her Westmont home also was not immediately returned.