Drunk Driver Crashes Into Pole, Passenger Burned to Death

What will it take for people to stop drinking and driving in Illinois? The public awareness campaigns about the dangers of impaired driving apparently aren't reaching a certain segment of the population. And getting busted by police for DUI doesn't always seem to solve the problem. Nor does getting into an auto accident which injures or kills someone else.

How about this? If you drive drunk, you might have to endure the horrifying experience of watching your vehicle go up in flames - with your passenger trapped inside.

That's what happened to one alleged drunk driver in Winnebago County last week. Early Friday morning around 1am, a 32-year old man was driving eastbound on Route 75 in Durand, which is several miles south of the Wisconsin border. The man's 1994 Buick Le Sabre Limited reportedly left the roadway around Winslow Road and smashed into a light pole. The impact sheared the pole off of its base and forced the car to roll over onto its roof and catch fire. The driver managed to free himself from the wreckage, but his passenger remained trapped in the burning vehicle and died on the scene. The victim was identified as a 29-year old woman from Rockton.  

The 32-year old man was charged with DUI after he was airlifted to a hospital in Rockford. It is unclear if the occupants of the Buick were related. But if they are not, the family of the woman could choose to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver of the car. In addition to reimbursement for burial expenses and compensation for lost future wages, a jury in this type of lawsuit could order the defendant to pay damages for pain and suffering or loss of care and companionship. If the man is convicted of DUI, it's even possible that he may have to pay punitive damages to the plaintiffs.