What Sentences Are Imposed for Aggravated DUI Causing Death in Chicago?
In this small selected sample of two completed Chicago prosecutions, prison terms directly tied to aggravated DUI causing death were 5 years and 15 years. These public cases are not a citywide distribution, an average, or a prediction.
Quick Answer
- Independent case clusters: 2
- Observed target-offense terms: 5 and 15 years
- Locations: Brighton Park and the Sunnyside/Austin intersection
- System: Illinois state prosecutions
Visit the Chicago sentence hub and review our methodology and editorial standards.
Illinois Aggravated DUI Causing Death
Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-501(d)(1)(F) covers a DUI violation that proximately causes another person’s death in a motor-vehicle crash or another accident listed in the statute. The provision can involve alcohol, drugs, intoxicating compounds, or combinations covered by the DUI statute.
Statutory Sentence
Under the current statute, aggravated DUI causing one death generally carries 3 to 14 years in prison, unless extraordinary circumstances support probation. When the violation causes two or more deaths, the stated imprisonment range is generally 6 to 28 years. Other provisions, prior history, and case-specific findings can affect the lawful sentence. These statutory ranges are separate from the two observed results below.
Observed Chicago Outcomes
| Case | Chicago conduct | Disposition | Final target outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tania Reyna | Fatal crash at California Avenue and 44th Street in Brighton Park | Guilty plea to aggravated DUI counts involving death | 5 years in prison, followed by 2 years of supervision |
| Dustin Strum | Collision at Sunnyside and Austin killed two people | Jury conviction; appellate court left one aggravated-DUI-causing-death conviction and its sentence in place | 15 years in prison |
Case Sources
Reyna: The report identifies the Chicago intersection, guilty plea, five-year prison sentence, and supervision term, citing Cook County court records and state corrections information. Case source.
Strum: The Illinois Appellate Court identified the Chicago location, verdict, count-specific terms, and the correction leaving one aggravated-DUI-causing-death conviction with a 15-year sentence. Vacated injury counts are not treated as usable outcomes. Official opinion.
Methodology
We required an exact Chicago offense location, a completed conviction or plea, a final imposed sentence, and a reliable source. Both figures are allocated to the target offense. No average is calculated.
Sources
Disclaimer
General information only, not legal advice.