Intoxicated driver sentenced to 11 years in fatal Burr Ridge crash
A 46-year-old Chicago man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for driving under the influence of drugs in a crash that killed a motorcyclist on Interstate 55 in DuPage County.
Fawzi Ottman, of the 4000 block of West Potomac Avenue, pleaded guilty to the charges on Nov. 2, 2017.
Prosecutors said he had illegal opiates and cannabis in his system around 5 p.m. on April 17, 2015, when he drove his car into a motorcycle driven by Daniel Dacanay of Chicago.
DuPage prosecutors say Ottman was driving erratically southbound on I-55, near County Line Road, just prior to the crash. He swerved his vehicle partially onto the shoulder of the road and struck Dacanay, pushing him into the vehicle in front of him.
After striking Dacanay, Ottman continued to drive for about 194 feet, dragging Dacanay at least part of the way, before coming to a stop.
"With illegal opiates, numerous benzodiazepines and cannabis in his system, (Ottman) had no business being behind the wheel that afternoon," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement. "His actions were beyond reckless and cost an innocent man his life. Today's sentence sends the message that if you cause the death of another while driving under the influence of any type of intoxicating substance, you will face a significant amount of time behind bars."
Ottman will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.