Downers Grove Man Charged in DUI Crash That Injured Two Teens

Bail was set at $200,000 for a Downers Grove man accused in a DUI crash that injured two teenagers Sunday night, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin announced Tuesday.

Jamie Delara-Rodriguez, 25, of the 800 block of Ogden Ave., appeared in bond court Tuesday morning, where he was charged with one count of aggravated DUI causing great bodily harm, a Class 4 felony. 

He was also charged with improper lane usage, driving too fast for conditions or failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and failure to notify the secretary of state of name/address change for a driver's license, according to court records.

DuPage County Judge Elizabeth Sexton set bond at $200,000, with 10 percent to apply, Berlin said. The state had requested a bond of $1 million.

On Aug. 11 at approximately 6:30 p.m., Delara-Rodriguez was driving his vehicle southbound on Meyers Road in Oak Brook when he drove over the center median and crashed head-on into another vehicle, occupied by 18-year-old Downers Grove residents Connor Dimmick and Meghan Landry, Berlin said

Following the crash, Delara-Rodriguez, Dimmick and Landry were all transported to a local hospital with unspecified injuries. As of Tuesday afternoon, the condition of the victims was unknown.

An investigation into the crash revealed that Delara-Rodriguez’s blood-alcohol content was allegedly .178—more than twice the legal limit, authorities said.

“Once again we see a horrific crash allegedly caused by drunk driving,” Berlin said in a press release. “Thankfully no lives were lost. However, the lives of the victims have undoubtedly been changed as they were both preparing to begin college this fall.

Delara-Rodriguez‘s next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 9 in front of Judge Robert Kleeman. If found guilty, he faces a possible prison sentence of up to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, Berlin said.