IL Route 31 and McLean Boulevard. (CREDIT: Google Maps)
Kane County law enforcers are asking for the public’s help to locate a 32-year-old Aurora man now sentenced to six years in jail for a DUI crash that left one person paralyzed.
According to a Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office news release, Kane County Circuit Judge David P. Kliment has sentenced Jesus Diaz-Garcia to six years’ imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections, despite Diaz Garcia’s failure to appear at the sentencing hearing.
A Kane County jury on May 20, 2021, found Diaz-Garcia guilty of the offense of aggravated DUI great bodily harm, a Class 4 felony.
(CREDIT: Google Maps)
Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys David Belshan and Katy Flannagan presented evidence that at about 10:30 p.m. April 22, 2017, Diaz-Garcia was driving north on IL Route 31 in the vicinity of North McLean Boulevard. Diaz-Garcia’s vehicle crossed the center line and struck the victim’s oncoming car, which was in the southbound lane of Route 31.
The victim, who was the driver of the oncoming car, suffered permanent paralysis as a result of the crash.
The investigation determined that Diaz-Garcia was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
After his arrest, Diaz-Garcia posted $5,000 bond and was released. He was present in court for his trial, but did not appear for his sentencing hearing. After the hearing, Kliment issued a warrant for Diaz-Garcia’s arrest.
Anyone with information about him should call 911.
In accordance with Illinois law, Diaz-Garcia must serve at least 85% of the sentence.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Belshan thanked the South Elgin police and the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team for their work in this investigation.
“This defendant made the choice to drive after drinking an excessive amount of alcohol, caused someone to be paralyzed as a result, yet refuses to account for his criminal conduct,” Belshan said. “He has followed one poor decision with additional poor decisions. Mr. Diaz-Garcia needs to grow up and accept responsibility for his horrific choices.”
SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office news release
