The McHenry County State’s Attorney sent this press release:

CRYSTAL LAKE MAN SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS FOR AGGRAVATED DUI CAUSING DEATH

Uri Herrera-Garcia

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces today that Uri C. Herrera-Garcia, 24, of Crystal Lake, was sentenced to nine years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Death (Class 2 Felony).

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

He lost control of the car, drove off the roadway and collided with a tree.

A passenger in the vehicle, Leonardo Elias (d.o.b: 2/18/91), died from the injuries he received during this accident. Mr. Herrera-Garcia was found at the scene of the crash with 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. In addition, his DNA matched DNA found on the air bag of the crashed car.

Mr. Herrera-Garcia failed to show up in court and was later arrested on a warrant, at which time he admitted to Crystal Lake Police Officers to driving the car involved in the collision.

Mr. Herrera-Garcia will be required to serve 85% of his prison sentence before being eligible for parole.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Ryan Blackney.