A driver fleeing a massive South Side street takeover in February 2023 lost control of his car, slammed into a utility pole and brick wall, and watched it burst into flames with three passengers trapped in the back seat. On Friday, Vicente Rodriguez, an Aurora man, was sentenced to nine years in prison for the crash that killed 18-year-old Jose Manuel Velazquez, 18-year-old Joniel Gutierrez, and 19-year-old Salvador Garcia — all three from Aurora.
According to CWB Chicago, more than 100 cars had gathered for a sideshow at 95th and Halsted in Washington Heights on February 18, 2023, when Chicago police moved in to disperse the crowd. Rodriguez was speeding away from the scene in a 2008 Infiniti G35 when he clipped a utility pole at Halsted and 100th Street, then struck a light pole and brick wall. The car burst into flames on impact.
An officer who heard the sound of a large bang found the Infiniti engulfed in flames, per the police report cited by CWB Chicago. First responders pulled three men from the burning car's rear seat, but all three were pronounced dead at the scene. Rodriguez himself was found in serious condition and was taken to Christ Hospital; he later self-admitted to being the driver of the burning car, according to the report. A second man believed to have been riding in the front passenger seat fled the scene and was not immediately found.
Arrest Came Nearly Two Years Later
Chicago police identified Rodriguez as the driver through their report on the crash, and he was arrested about a block away on the night of the crash, on the 10000 block of South Green Street, according to CWB Chicago's earlier reporting on the incident. Despite that same-night arrest, Rodriguez was not criminally charged for almost two years. He was formally arrested and charged with three counts of reckless homicide with a motor vehicle on December 20, 2024, in St. Charles, Illinois, as reported by FOX 32 Chicago.
Prosecutors reported that Rodriguez had previous serious traffic cases in other counties, including a prior DUI case and prior cases involving leaving the scene of an accident. Rodriguez ultimately pleaded guilty to three counts of reckless homicide by motor vehicle, and Judge John Lyke sentenced him to nine years in prison, the outlet's report notes.
Why a Nine-Year Sentence Means About Half That Time
Reckless homicide is classified as a Class 3 felony under Illinois law, carrying a standard sentencing range of two to five years per count, according to Komie and Associates. But per the same statutory framework, inmates convicted of Class 3 felony reckless homicide typically qualify for day-for-day good conduct credit, meaning Rodriguez must serve approximately 50% of his court-imposed sentence — about four and a half years, as detailed by DRD Law, LLC. Beyond prison time, a reckless homicide conviction carries a mandatory license revocation, and Rodriguez will not be eligible to apply for reinstatement until at least 24 months after his release from custody, according to Frontline Legal.
Sideshows Remain an Ongoing Problem Across Chicago
The crash underscores what CWB Chicago describes as an ongoing problem for the city: sideshows, in which drivers of modified vehicles spin donuts before large crowds gathered at major intersections, often forming and dispersing with little warning. Similar gatherings have continued to pop up across Chicago's outer neighborhoods years after Rodriguez's fatal crash, including a Pilsen takeover Hoodline detailed in a truck doing donuts around a crowd and a Morgan Park gathering that drew over 170 emergency calls within minutes.
City and state lawmakers have layered on new enforcement tools in response. A Chicago municipal ordinance enacted in July 2022 lets police impound vehicles involved in street racing or drifting and levy fines between $5,000 and $10,000 against owners using post-event video evidence, while Illinois state law makes participating in or facilitating an unsanctioned sideshow a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail, a $2,500 fine, and license revocation. A newer state law, Public Act 104-0063, took effect January 1, 2026, and gives officers discretionary authority to immediately impound vehicles for five days upon issuing citations for street racing, sideshows, or reckless driving. In June 2026, Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez introduced a proposed ordinance that would fine parents up to $1,000 if their minor children commit crimes during takeovers, and fine adults up to $10,000 for promoting youth attendance on social media.
