A 48-year-old South Elgin man is staying behind bars after a judge agreed with prosecutors and denied him pretrial release in connection with a Lombard crash that left a 35-year-old woman dead and another person seriously hurt. Dwayne Rushing is charged with aggravated driving under the influence in the May 10 collision in Lombard. The victim, Laura O’Keefe, was placed on life support following emergency surgery and died on May 12, according to prosecutors.
Judge Denies Release, Lays Out Charges
A judge granted prosecutors’ request to keep 48-year-old Dwayne Rushing of South Elgin in custody, with no pretrial release, as he faces one count of aggravated driving under the influence causing death (a Class 2 felony) and one count of aggravated DUI causing great bodily harm (a Class 4 felony), according to FOX 32 Chicago. Rushing is due back in DuPage County court on June 8.
Crash Scene and Investigation
The crash occurred just before 5:30 p.m. on May 10 in the 2700 block of South Highland Avenue, just north of Butterfield Road, briefly shutting down multiple lanes while first responders worked the scene, NBC Chicago reported. Lombard police said the DuPage Metropolitan Emergency Response & Investigations Team assisted with the on-scene investigation.
What Prosecutors Say Happened
Prosecutors allege Rushing rear-ended a Toyota, then drove around it, crossed a grass parkway and hit a Subaru Outback that had been stopped at a plaza exit. Police found heavy front-end damage to the vehicle and all occupants were taken to hospitals, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Laura O’Keefe, 35, suffered severe brain injuries, was placed on life support after emergency surgery and died on May 12. A passenger in her car remains in intensive care.
Officers at the scene reported smelling alcohol on Rushing, noting that he appeared unsteady, with slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. Prosecutors say an open alcoholic beverage was found in his vehicle and that his blood-alcohol concentration tested at 0.116. DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin called the crash “100% avoidable.”…