A press release from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office:

CRYSTAL LAKE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO AGGRAVATED DUI CAUSING DEATH CHARGE

WOODSTOCK – Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces today that Uri C. Herrera-Garcia, 24, of Crystal Lake, entered a plea of guilty to one count of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Death (Class 2 Felony).

Uri C. Herrera-Garcia

In the late evening hours of October 25, 2009, Uri Herrera-Garcia drove a vehicle on Rte. 120 at Tijuana Drive in Lakemoor, Illinois.

He lost control of his vehicle that drove off the roadway and collided with a tree off of the roadway.

A passenger in the vehicle, Leonardo Elias (dob: 2/18/91), perished as a result of the injuries he received during this accident.0

Mr. Herrera-Garcia was found at the scene of the crash and had blood on his face.

Later hospital toxicology testing, as well as police testing, revealed a blood alcohol level in Mr. Herrera-Garcia that was greater than 0.08.

Mr. Herrera-Garcia later admitted to Crystal Lake police officers when arrested on a warrant to driving the motor vehicle involved in this case.

A DNA test performed on the air bag of the vehicle the defendant was driving matched the DNA belonging to Mr. Herrera-Garcia.

Mr. Herrera-Garcia’s next court date is April 15, 2011, where a sentence will be imposed. This offense is probationable, and if prison is imposed, there is a range of 3 to 14 years in prison. Mr. Herrera-Garcia would be required to serve 85% of any prison sentence before being eligible for parole.