13½-year sentence in fatal West Chicago DUI crash

It's been nearly a year since his mother died after being struck by an intoxicated motorist, but Dustin Siemaszek still can't bear to delete her number from his phone.

"The memory of being awakened by my dad the following morning to the words, 'Dustin, I'm so sorry, but your mom passed away,' will haunt me for the rest of my life," the 20-year-old man said tearfully. "Everyday, I imagine I will still speak to my mom."

The drunken driver, Luis M. Alvarez, was sentenced Tuesday to 13.5 years in prison for the fatal West Chicago crash, after which he fled the scene.

Alvarez, 25, formerly of Montgomery, faced three to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty earlier this summer to aggravated DUI. DuPage Circuit Judge Perry Thompson sentenced him Tuesday in an emotional court hearing.

"This was not an accident," Thompson said. "This was a crime. There are three broken families. They all pay a price in a different way."

Prosecutor Michael Pawl said Alvarez fled Sept. 22 after his red van struck the rear of a motorcycle near the intersection of Route 59 and Stimmel Street in West Chicago.

Rescuers found the motorcycle's driver, William F. Rezac, 55, of Warrenville and his female passenger, Deborah Atkinson, 51, of Lisle with severe injuries. Both were rushed to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.

A doctor pronounced Atkinson dead shortly later. Rezac was airlifted to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where he initially was listed in critical condition, but survived the crash.

Back at the crash scene, witnesses told police the driver of the car fled south on Route 59. Minutes later, police officers found the van abandoned about a half-mile away at Forest and Easton avenues. The car had extensive front-end damage, consistent with a traffic crash, police said.

Pawl said police tracked down Alvarez in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he was staying with family and friends. He has remained in the DuPage County jail since his arrest last summer.

Two witnesses who were with Alvarez during the crash told police he had been drinking and was falling asleep while behind the wheel.

He was estimated to be traveling at least 78 mph in a 35 mph zone at the time of the crash.

"He fled and left these people dead and dying in the street," Pawl said. "The defendant chose to abandon his vehicle. He did not call 911. He did not get these people help. Instead, he chose to flee the state."

Members of the three families, including many for Alvarez, filled the crowded courtroom. His attorney, Ruth Dan, a senior assistant public defender, submitted letters from several of them in which they urged the judge to show Alvarez mercy.

In a tearful statement, Alvarez apologized for causing so much pain and said he accepts responsibility.

"I didn't do it on purpose," he said. "I know I have a drinking problem. I know in asking for forgiveness I cannot cure the suffering of their family. I know it would be better for me to be dead, but I am here confronting this."

Alvarez, who is in the country illegally, has a criminal history that includes a 2000 DUI crash in which no one was injured. He also has two prior felony convictions for aggravated battery and obstructing justice.

Rezac survived, but he continues to suffer extensive physical injuries. Authorities also charged him with misdemeanor DUI after accusing him of driving intoxicated.

Alvarez must serve 85 percent of the prison term before being eligible for parole. He is expected to be deported after his term expires.