A West Chicago man, Jaime Damian, age 22, has been sentenced to a decade behind bars following a DUI crash that resulted in the death of one man and serious injury to his wife, as reported by the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. In a court appearance, Damian entered a guilty plea to charges of Aggravated DUI – Accident Causing Death and Aggravated DUI – Great Bodily Harm, leading to his sentencing by Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh. According to information compiled by prosecutors, on September 14, 2023, Damian veered his 2009 Honda into oncoming traffic on Roosevelt Road, striking a Lincoln sedan and ultimately causing fatal injuries to the driver, Jose Correa, and injuring Correa's wife, Maria. DuPage County State's Attorney's Office revealed that toxicology reports later found cocaine in Damian's system at the time of the accident.
"This afternoon, Jaime Damian learned that his decision to drive after he had been using cocaine will cost him the next ten years of his life," State’s Attorney Robert Berlin stated, pointing out the irreversible consequences of this tragic incident not just for Damian but more so for the bereaved family and friends of the deceased, who must now contend with their loss. The prosecution team, Assistant State’s Attorneys Katharine Walker and Sara Henley, was acknowledged by Berlin for their work in the case that brought Damian to justice securing the ten-year sentence which must serve 85% before he's eligible for parole.
The initial crash occurred on a weekday afternoon when Damian's westbound journey on a seemingly routine road took a turn towards the irreversible, crossing the double yellow line and setting off a chain of events that would culminate in profound loss. Firefighters hurriedly extracted the couple from their mangled vehicle, rushing them to medical care; however, Jose Correa did not survive. Injured, Maria was left to heal from a broken wrist and leg bruises amidst the indelible pain of losing her partner. In a swift judgment, pre-trial release had been denied by Judge Joshua Dieden in First Appearance Court on December 12, 2023, following the State's motion, with Damian remaining in custody at DuPage County Jail until his recent sentencing.
A stark reminder from this case echoes in the words of State’s Attorney Berlin, "this tragedy, like all driving-impaired fatalities, was 100% avoidable had Mr. Damian not gotten behind the wheel that afternoon."
