On Friday, June 26th, the man who caused a fatal accident in the Rockford area of Illinois was taken into custody. Eliseo Jiminez, 61, of Belvidere, is facing aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death, aggravated driving under the influence, and reckless homicide charges.
The accident that the suspect is facing the charges for occured on Monday, February 4th, 2019, in the 6100-block of Columbine Boulevard and Harrison Avenue. The Winnebago County Coroner Bill Hintz said that the crash killed 60-year-old Russell Stauffer of Rockford.
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The victim was driving a Chevrolet Cobalt and collided with a Ram Dodge pickup truck. The paramedics transported the man to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, where he passed away from chest and abdominal injuries. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department investigated the accident.
In Illinois, felony driving under the influence is an aggravated DUI and carries severe convictions. Guilty suspects are liable to pay $25 000 and may face other penalties depending on the circumstances of the case. The punishment also depends on whether or not the person is a first-time or a repeat offender.
A reckless homicide, on the other hand, carries a prison term. A person commits the offense when a motor vehicle accident occurs and causes the death of a pedestrian or the occupant of another car. Aside from criminal prosecution, the offender could also face a civil lawsuit from the victim’s family or representatives to recover damages for the loss suffered.
Those involved in DUI-related accidents should contact a drunk driving attorney for legal advice and representation.
Disclaimer: The Safety Watch article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.
The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Safety Watch’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.