Aurora man charged with murder after fatal wrong-way crash on Dan Ryan in Chicago Friday

An Aurora man is facing murder charges after a fatal wrong-way crash Friday on the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago.

Juan Ruiz Huerta, 29, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in addition to aggravated battery, kidnapping and unlawful restraint after the crash on July 31.

According to a news release from the Illinois State Police, Ruiz Huerta was driving north on I-94 at about 5:50 p.m. with a passenger when the two got into a “verbal altercation.”

Ruiz Huerta turned the vehicle around and began driving quickly in the wrong direction, heading south into the northbound express lanes.

Ruiz Huerta’s vehicle struck another car near 53rd Street, resulting in his passenger, 28-year-old Victory A. Swanigan of Chicago, suffering a fatal injury.

Both Ruiz Huerta and the other driver were taken to hospitals with injuries.

Ruiz Huerta was transported to the Riverdale Police Department and is being held until his first court appearance.

rwest@dailyherald.com