Igors Kazakovs, 42, of Vernon Hills

A Vernon Hills man who previously killed a person while driving drunk has been ordered detained until trial after causing another crash while under the influence, authorities said.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese announced McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt granted the State’s motion to deny pretrial release for Igors Kazakovs, 42, of Vernon Hills.

Freese said the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to the area of South River Road and Charles J. Miller Road at 1:22 p.m. on Nov. 9 for a two-vehicle accident.

Upon arrival, Freese said, deputies determined that a Ford Edge driven by Kazakovs had rear-ended another vehicle that was stopped at a red light.

Deputies met with Kazakovs and noticed that he had slurred speech and an odor of alcohol, Freese said.

Kazakovs admitted to drinking earlier in the day.

Kazakovs was arrested after submitting to standardized field sobriety tests, Freese said, and deputies found several mini bottles of liquor inside Kazakovs’s car.

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Kazakovs was taken to the McHenry Sheriff’s Department, where he provided a breath test with a result of a 0.191 blood alcohol concentration.

Freese said Kazakovs has twice been convicted of Driving Under the Influence.

On New Year’s Day of 2005, Kazakovs hit a taxicab, killing the driver and passenger, while intoxicated, Freese said.

Due to the crash and subsequent investigation, Kazakovs was sentenced to sixteen years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for that offense.

Kazakovs’ driver’s license was still revoked from the fatal accident when the most recent accident occurred in McHenry, Freese said.

Kazakovs was initially charged with a misdemeanor offense of Driving Under the Influence, and was released that afternoon, Freese said. However, the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed Kazakovs’ criminal history and learned of his past offenses before his first court appearance on Dec. 3.

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Prosecutors filed felony charges and petitioned to detain Kazakovs until trial, arguing that he was a danger to the community.

Freese said she was “thankful that another tragedy was avoided in the most recent accident,” while also noting that Kazakov’s story demonstrates the need for aggressive prosecution of those who selfishly endanger others by driving under the influence of any intoxicating substance.

Kazakovs’ is due back in court Dec. 22.