A man was charged with multiple felonies Thursday in connection with a crash in suburban Berwyn that killed a single mother on her way to work, according to police, who said his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit when he drove into the oncoming lane.
Jose Zamago-Gaugin, 27, was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence, one count of reckless homicide and one count of unlawful restraint, all felonies, Berwyn Police Chief Michael Cimaglia said in a statement. Zamago-Gaugin, of Chicago, was also issued several traffic citations, authorities said.
The "horrific auto accident" occurred just before 3 a.m. on Tuesday in the 6300 block of Ogden Avenue, according to police.
Mayra Rivera, 25, was driving in a black Pontiac when Zamago-Gaugin crossed the center line in a white Nissan and struck her vehicle head on, officials said.
Rivera, who has a 6-year-old son and was on her way to work at the time of the crash, was extricated from her car and pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
Authorities said Zamago-Gaugin and a 20-year-old female passenger were both taken to area hospitals with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.
During the investigation, authorities learned that Zamago-Gaugin was traveling 85 miles per hour at the time of the crash and had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit, according to police.
Local
Officials also said the woman in Zamago-Gaugin's car asked him "to stop driving so recklessly and fast, asked to get out of the vehicle for her own safety and was text messaging people seeking help."
In response, Zamago-Gaugin took her cell phone and threw it on the floor to prevent her from calling anyone for assistance, according to Berwyn police.
Additional charges may be added at the time of indictment, Cimaglia said. Attorney information for Zamago-Gaugin was not immediately available.
