On Labor Day of 2012 a teenager made the "impulse decision" to purchase computer air duster, and inhale from it frequently while driving. After passing out at the wheel she slammed into a family of four, killing a 5 year-old girl, and has now been found guilty of aggravated DUI, as reported by the Highland Park News.
P.R., a Highland Park teen recently released from rehab, confessed to causing the accident that claimed the life of J.S. Those also injured in the crash included J.S.'s mother and two brothers.
Judge James Booras presided over the case heard in the Waukegan Courthouse in Lake County.
In a videotaped confession P.R. admitted to buying the inhalant before getting into her father's Lexus where she "must have passed out" after using it. When P.R. later awoke she found that her vehicle was resting against a building in Highland Park – and witnesses were screaming at her to get out of the car.
Douglas Zeit, the attorney representing P.R., did not deny that she wasn't responsible for the crash, instead he argued that state law fails to list some inhalants as intoxicants.
Prior to the trial P.R. had confessed to reckless homicide.
According to witnesses and a surveillance camera that captured the accident, P.R. drove over oncoming lanes and a curb when she came in contact with J.S.'s family. There are audible comments, repeatedly, captured on the videotape of witnesses screaming at P.R. to stop her car, as the Lexus reversed and returned over several car lengths – to drive over five-year-old J.S. a total of four times.
Witnesses D.P. and A.P., a mother and son, also recalled for the court seeing P.R. drive over the child four times. A.P. added that he struck the window of the Lexus in an attempt to get P.R.'s attention, and that she was not fully conscious at the time. When P.R. finally stopped and noticed A.P. she allegedly asked him, through slurred words, "What happened?"
The first officer to arrive on scene, A.G., testified that P.R. came up to him, sobbing, and begged him to lead her away from the accident. According to Officer A.G., P.R. told him, "You've got to get me out of here. I did this."
A.G. then placed P.R. in the rear seat of his police cruiser, and she passed out.
While being questioned later by police about any use of alcohol or drugs before the accident, P.R. said she wasn't under the influence "any more."
P.R. had originally been free on a bail of $500,000. She faced anywhere from two to 14 years in prison on the DUI charge.
A civil suit filed by J.S.'s family has been settled and the details are not public.
An arrest for DUI, DWI, OUI or OWI must be handled by an attorney that is experienced in defending these types of charges. You do not need a criminal defense attorney for this, only contact a DUI attorney to defend charges stemming from DUI.