Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Wicker Park Man Charged With Drunken Driving in Fatal Humboldt Park Crash

By Darryl Holliday | August 26, 2014 1:46pm
 Sean Riley, 33, was charged with aggravated DUI, among other crimes, after a man walking across North Avenue was hit by a vehicle in Humboldt Park Sunday night, police said.
Sean Riley, 33, was charged with aggravated DUI, among other crimes, after a man walking across North Avenue was hit by a vehicle in Humboldt Park Sunday night, police said.
View Full Caption
CPD

HUMBOLDT PARK — A 33-year-old man has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence after striking and killing a man walking across North Avenue in Humboldt Park Sunday night, authorities said.

Sean Riley stayed on the scene after striking Jose Serrano in the 2700 block of North Avenue, police said. The 55-year-old man was taken to the hospital in critical condition shortly after 8:30 p.m. but later died, authorities said.

An off-duty police officer driving behind Riley told authorities he saw him going east on North Avenue at about 40 mph, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Glen Runk said Tuesday during a brief court hearing. 

Serrano, 55, was walking southbound across North Avenue's four lanes of traffic in a marked crosswalk, Runk said. 

"The eyewitness did not see [Riley] apply any brakes or attempt to swerve out of the way of the victim," said Runk, explaining how Riley hit Serrano with the front of his truck.

Riley pulled over just before Talman Avenue and got out in a "dazed physical state," according to the witness, Runk said. Riley walked toward the victim, who suffered a fatal skull fracture and a broken arm, leg and foot, Runk said.

Serrano was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital, where he died of multiple head injuries, according to authorities.

Riley was taken to the police station, where he initially refused to take a sobriety test, according to a police report. Several hours after the accident, shortly after 3:30 a.m., Riley agreed to a sobriety test and was found to have a blood-alcohol content of .16 percent — twice the legal limit — prosecutors said. 

Riley also admitted that he'd "had a few" when officers asked if he had been drinking, according to a police report. 

Riley, who lives in Wicker Park, is native of Montana, according to court records and Riley's Facebook page.

He was charged with aggravated DUI, two counts of DUI, driving without insurance and striking a pedestrian in a roadway. He was ordered held on $200,000 bail. 

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: