Thrice deported man guilty of causing fatal crash, jury rules

An immigrant deported three times in the last 13 years, only to return illegally to the United States each time, is heading back to his native country again, but not before he first spends as many as 28 years in a state prison for killing a Crystal Lake man in a 2006 crash.

Eulalio Haro, 36, was found guilty Thursday of reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence and failure to report a crash resulting in a death in connection with the June 24, 2006 car-vs.-motrorcycle collision that claimed the life of 71-year-old Dean Knospe.

Witnesses in Haro's three-day trial testified he was driving erratically and eastbound on Route 14 near Woodstock when his car swerved into oncoming traffic and struck Knospe's motorcycle. The car, authorities said, dragged Knospe more than 100 feet before the two separated and Haro, of Woodstock, sped away.

A state expert testified that, based on tests conducted when Haro was arrested 17 hours after the crash, he probably had a blood-alcohol level of .35 at the time of the collision, more than four times the legal threshold.

During closing arguments Thursday, county prosecutors described Haro as "a drunken menace" who showed little concern for Knospe, or anyone else, the day of the crash.

"He chose to drive a motor vehicle in a reckless fashion. He chose to drive after consuming alcohol," Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney David Johnston said. "These things caused the death of the victim."

Haro's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Jason Major, told jurors the crash was a horrible accident, noting that one eyewitness called his swerve into oncoming traffic an "overcorrection."

Johnston later credited the eyewitnesses and work of Woodstock Police for the guilty verdicts.

"I think we have to go for the maximum (28-year sentence)," he said. "With this guy's record, I don't see how we could ask for anything less."

Thursday's conviction is not the first time Haro has faced a prison term for causing a fatal crash while driving drunk. In 1993 Haro was sentenced to four years in prison for a DUI-related crash that killed his brother. He was deported to Mexico after serving 15 months of that sentence but, court records indicate, was back in northern Illinois 18 months later.

After another string of driving related offenses, federal authorities deported Haro a second time in January 2005. About seven months later, he was captured in Southern California and sent back to Mexico a third time.

Haro will remain in custody at the McHenry County jail without bond until his March 18 sentencing.