Chicago man charged in fatal crash on I-290
A Chicago man who rear-ended a state police squad car early Saturday, killing a 42-year-old West suburban man warming up inside and injuring the state trooper, has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence, a DuPage County state's attorney's office news release said.
The driver of the gray 2010 Chevrolet Impala, Daniel C. Clark, 32, was traveling east in the left lane of I-290 and crashed his vehicle into the parked squad car shortly after 1 a.m. east of Mill Road in Addison, authorities said.
The state trooper's car was parked with emergency lights flashing behind a disabled vehicle partially blocking the left lane, authorities said.
The driver of that vehicle, Frank Caruso, and the trooper were inside the squad car with the trooper sitting in the front and Caruso in the back, authorities said.
Caruso was taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:15 a.m.
“This is a tragic loss of life allegedly caused by a man who believed he was able to drive after he had been drinking,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release. “People have got to learn that far too often drinking and driving can be a deadly combination. If you or someone you know has been drinking, do not get behind the wheel of an automobile. Call a cab or get a ride from someone who hasn't been drinking. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Mr. Caruso in their time of loss.”
Clark faces one count of aggravated DUI involving death and one count of aggravated DUI involving great bodily harm. He is scheduled to appear in bond court at 8 a.m. Sunday.
The injured trooper was taken to Loyola University Medical Center with nonlife-threatening injuries. He is expected to fully recover, authorities said.