Charges have been filed against a man who was allegedly speeding and driving drunk when he ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle, killing a man and seriously injuring a woman in Waukegan.
Frederick A. Spencer, 30, of Waukegan, was charged with reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence causing death and aggravated driving under the influence causing injury.
The crash happened around 1:30 a.m. on October 18, 2020, at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Green Bay Road in Waukegan.
Waukegan Police Department Cmdr. Edgar Navarro said at the time that a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer was traveling northbound on Green Bay Road attempting to cross the intersection at Grand Avenue.
A 2011 Jeep Liberty, which was traveling eastbound on Grand Avenue, was also in the intersection and both cars collided with each other.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Manuel Mandujano said in court Thursday that Spencer was driving the Chevrolet.
Mandujano said that traffic camera video “clearly shows” Spencer disregarding the red light while the Jeep had the green light.
Navarro said that speed also contributed to the crash.
The front seat passenger of the Jeep, a man in his 30s from Waukegan, was transported to an area hospital where he died from his injuries.
The driver of the Jeep, a woman in her 40s from Waukegan, was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries, Navarro said.
Spencer was the only occupant of the Chevrolet. He was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries.
Mandujano said that investigators obtained Spencer’s blood sample from the hospital and sent it to the crime lab.
An analysis revealed Spencer’s blood alcohol content was .085 when it was drawn.
The crime lab performed an extrapolation that showed his blood alcohol content was between .115 and .145 when the crash occurred, Mandujano said.
During a court hearing Thursday, Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak kept bond at $350,000. The bond had been set when a warrant was issued for the man’s arrest in May.
Spencer has since been released from the Lake County Jail after posting $35,000 cash, jail records show.
An arraignment hearing is scheduled for November 18.