Personal Injury Law

High School Rugby Star Involved in Illinois Hit-and Run Accident that Killed Classmate Admits He Drank Alcohol Before Getting in Minivan

The Mt. Prospect Heights teen who has been charged in the Illinois hit-and-run collision that killed Hersey High School classmate Monika Skrzypkowski has admitted that he drank vodka and seven beers at a party before getting behind the wheel of his motor vehicle. Schuh is the school?s rugby team captain.

Following the tragic DUI accident on Saturday night, 17-year-old Kevin Schuh registered a .063% blood alcohol content. While this figure is lower than the .08% BAC legal limit for driving in Illinois, Schuh has admitted that he was too drunk to drive. He is accused of hitting Skrzypkowski as she crossed a Prospect Height street.

Skrzypkowski, 15, was struck by Schuh?s minivan on Elmhurst road after she and a few friends left her boyfriend?s birthday party. Following the crash, Schuh contacted police and at first claimed that someone vandalized his vehicle. He later admitted to driving the vehicle that killed the high school sophomore.

Schuh is charged with reckless homicide, aggravated DUI causing a death, and leaving an accident scene. In Cook County Circuit Court on Monday, a judge set his bail at $500,000.

Illinois Drunk Driving
? Every year, about 50,000 motorists in Illinois are charged with DUI.
? 4,000 of these drivers are underage drinkers.
? Since the state enacted its ?Use It and Lose It? Provision in 1995 that enforces a zero-tolerance law for underage motorists who drive with any alcohol in their system, an additional 3,000 underage drivers are ticketed annually.
? In Illinois, DUI charges can be brought against a driver even if his or her BAC was less than .08% if prosecutors can prove that the drinking resulted in personal injury or wrongful death.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that the 21-year-old minimum drinking age has saved 4,441 lives in the last five years.

Teen in Prospect Heights crash that killed girl admitted drinking, Cook County prosecutors say, Chicago Tribune, December 9, 2008

$500K Bond For Teen Accused Of Fatal Hit-And-Run, CBS2Chicago.com, December 9, 2008

New Data Show Drinking Age Laws Saved 4,441 Lives Over 5 Years, NHTSA, November 6, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Facts about Use It & Lose It, CyberDrive Illinois

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on December 12, 2008 (boomark / email).