DUI Suspected in Fatal Stevenson Crash

Chicago - Charges are pending against a motorist following a fatal crash involving alcohol and speed Monday night on the Stevenson Expressway on the South Side.

Charges are anticipated against a 28-year-old Berwyn man stemming from a fatal two-vehicle crash about 9:55 p.m. in the southbound lanes of the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) near South Throop Street, according to Illinois State Police District Chicago Master Sgt. Anthony Hoop.

Manuel Figueroa had pulled over a 1998 green Buick LeSabre that he was driving into an emergency accident investigation area for an unidentified reason and was waiting to enter the right lane of southbound I-55 when the accident happened, according to ISP District Chicago Trooper Mark Hall.

Witnesses said the Berwyn man was driving a 1991 GMC pick-up truck and traveling in the left lane at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the pickup, swerved across three lanes of traffic and collided with the drivers-side door of the LeSabre, according to Hoop.

Figueroa-Dal Lara, 56, of 4611 S. Mozart St., was pronounced dead at 10:38 p.m. at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County after a motor-vehicle accident, according to a spokesman for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Fire Media Affairs spokesman Joe Roccasalva said two adults were initially taken to Stroger in critical condition.

However, Hoop said the Berwyn motorist was taken in “stable” condition and that a preliminary blood test at Stroger indicated the presence of alcohol in the motorist's system and he allegedly admitted to consuming six beers earlier in the evening, Hoop said.

The Berwyn man was under medical observation at Stroger as of 6:10 a.m., according to Hall. State Police had officers at the hospital waiting for his release.

Charges have not been filed as of 6:10 a.m., according to Hall.

An autopsy is scheduled for later Tuesday.