Thrice-deported man goes on trial in fatal DUI crash

Jury selection began Tuesday in the trial of a man deported to his native Mexico three times only to return and, according to police, cause a crash that killed a Crystal Lake motorcyclist.

Eulalio Haro, 36, of Woodstock, faces charges of reckless homicide, aggravated DUI and failing to report a fatal accident stemming from the June 24 crash that claimed the life of 71-year-old Dean Knospe.

Authorities say Haro was driving with a blood-alcohol level more than three times the legal limit when his car veered into oncoming traffic on Route 14 east of Woodstock and collided with Knospe's motorcycle.

Haro sped away from the scene, police said, but was arrested the next day when an officer spotted his car at a Woodstock apartment complex. The car, police said, had damage consistent with what happened in the crash and Haro still had traces of alcohol in his blood.

His defense, during a trial expected to last at least until Friday, is expected to argue there is no way prosecutors can prove Haro was drunk at the time of the crash based on a small amount of alcohol present in his system 17 hours later.

If convicted, Haro would face up to 28 years behind bars.

It would not be the first time he was sent to prison on charges he killed someone while driving drunk. In 1993 he was sentenced to four years in prison after a DUI-related crash killed his brother.

Haro was deported after serving that time, federal authorities said, but was back in northern Illinois with 18 months. He was deported again in January 2005 and again about seven months later, but each time found his way back to the United States.