Dan Ryan Crash Wasn't Cop's First

Officer charged in drunken crash that killed two

An 18-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department has been charged in a drunken crash on the Dan Ryan that killed two people -- and this isn't his first serious wreck on that expressway.

Joseph Frugoli, 41, was charged with two counts of reckless homicide, two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, and one count of leaving the scene of a fatal crash.

Frugoli was driving a black Lexus SUV that plowed into a disabled vehicle along the side of the Dan Ryan early Friday morning, according to a release from state police.  The car Frugoli hit erupted in flames, killing two men trapped inside.

After a passerby stopped to help Frugoli out of his car, the off-duty officer then tried to flee the scene on foot, the release said.  He was quickly arrested.

This wasn't Frugoli's first serious crash.  Just last week, he was ordered to pay $7,100 to a man he rear-ended on the Dan Ryan in 2005, the Sun-Times reported.

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