Man pleads not guilty in Waukegan fatal crash
A Wisconsin man charged with reckless homicide and aggravated DUI for killing one pedestrian and injuring another in a Waukegan traffic accident hours after using heroin pleaded not guilty in Lake County court early Thursday.
Aaron B. Stoen, 26, of Twin Lakes, remains held in the Lake County jail in lieu of $500,000 bail in the Oct. 26 accident at Sunset Avenue and Oneida Place on Waukegan's north side.
Police said the two victims were walking in a residential area near that intersection going door-to-door while selling satellite television packages when the vehicle driven by Stoen went out of control, jumped the curb and struck them.
Both men were taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with serious injuries. One man died the next day from his injuries, while the second is expected to make a full recovery.
A small amount of heroin and drug paraphernalia was found in Stoen's vehicle, and he admitted he had used heroin before the accident, authorities said.
At the time, Stoen was driving on a revoked license due to DUI-related offenses in Wisconsin and Illinois.
He is charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death, two counts of aggravated DUI causing great bodily harm, four counts of aggravated DUI while driving on a suspended or revoked license, and one count of reckless homicide.
Stoen is due back in court Dec. 16. His trial is slated to begin Jan. 13.