A 23-year-old woman was killed Saturday night in a violent two-vehicle collision at Church Road and Butterfield Road in Aurora, a crash that has now left the other driver facing an array of felony charges, including aggravated DUI and reckless homicide, according to police.
Crash details
Investigators say the woman was driving a blue Hyundai sedan west on Butterfield Road and tried to turn left onto southbound Church Road when an eastbound gray Toyota pickup slammed into her car. Both drivers were rushed to nearby hospitals. The woman was later pronounced dead, while the pickup’s driver, 30-year-old Irven Pinedo, was listed in critical condition in the latest update from authorities.
Pinedo now faces five felony counts of aggravated DUI causing death, one felony count of reckless homicide, one felony count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and several misdemeanor counts, as detailed by the Kane County Chronicle.
Investigation and officials' comments
In a statement, Aurora Police Chief Matt Thomas called the case heartbreaking. “This is a tragic incident that has resulted in the loss of a young life, and our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones,” he said in a department release.
Detectives shut down the intersection overnight so crash reconstruction teams could work the scene, and an autopsy was conducted Monday. The investigation remains active, and police say additional charges or updates could follow. Anyone who may have seen the collision or has related information is urged to call Aurora police at 630-256-5330, according to the Kane County Chronicle.
Legal context
Under Illinois law, aggravated driving under the influence that is the proximate cause of a death is treated as an aggravated offense, carrying the possibility of multi-year prison sentences and other enhanced penalties. Those provisions and sentencing ranges are outlined in the Illinois Vehicle Code. As in all criminal cases, anyone charged is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
