A Lake in the Hills man has been charged with his 8th DUI after allegedly causing a head-on crash that left numerous people hospitalized, some with serious injuries, in Algonquin early Sunday morning.
Robert D. Barrett, 42, of Lake in the Hills, has been charged by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office with a Class X Felony count of Aggravated DUI – 6th or Subsequent Violation, a Class 4 felony count of Aggravated DUI for causing a crash that resulted in great bodily harm, and a Class 4 felony count of Aggravated DUI for driving on a revoked license.
Ryan Markham, Deputy Chief of Administration at the Algonquin Police Department, said Barrett was traveling northbound on Randall Road in a 2016 BMW sedan at 4:15 a.m. Sunday as a 2019 Honda minivan was traveling southbound near Grandview Drive.
Barrett told police that he attempted to make a U-turn when the Honda struck his vehicle, Markham said.
However, Markham said the occupants of the Honda minivan told police that Barrett’s BMW was traveling northbound in the southbound lane when it collided with them.
All six occupants of the Honda were transported to area hospitals, Markham said.
Three patients were taken to Sherman Hospital, and three patients were taken to Northwestern Hospital in Huntley.
Four of the occupants of the minivan were in their early 50’s and two were in their mid-20’s, Markham said.
Markham said the Honda occupants suffered from various injuries to their faces, foreheads, chest, knees and legs, necks, and one lost multiple teeth.
One occupant, suffering from a head injury, was transported from Northwestern Hospital to a hospital in McHenry to be seen by a neurological specialist, Markham said.
Barrett was transported to Northwestern Hospital in Huntley with minor injuries.
Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser said Barrett was operating the BMW sedan while under the influence of alcohol and while driving with his driver’s license revoked.
Mosser further alleged that officers observed Barrett to have slurred speech, red glassy eyes, and the odor of alcohol on his breath when they arrived on the scene of the crash.
Barrett has had seven prior DUI-related convictions, Mosser said.
Barrett appeared in a pretrial detention hearing in Kane County on Monday, Mosser said, and prosecutors argued that Barrett’s detention should be approved as he poses a real and present threat to the safety of the community if he were to be released.
The court determined that Barrett should remain detained in the Kane County jail while his case is pending, Mosser said.
Barrett’s next court date is set for June 10 at the Kane County Judicial Center, court records show.