COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A drunken driver was trying to pass a semitrailer in Brighton Park on Saturday when she struck a pole and killed her passenger, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Adrienne Garcia, 27, tested positive for cocaine and had a blood-alcohol content of .266 after she caused the fatal crash at 47th Street and Kedzie Avenue about 8:10 a.m. Saturday, prosecutors said.
That's more than three times the legal driving limit of .08.
Passenger Vivian Molina, 18, was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital. She later died about 10:16 a.m. Monday of "multiple injuries due to a motor-vehicle collision," according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
Garcia suffered a broken leg and broken ribs, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Julia Ramirez said during a bond hearing Wednesday at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, 2650 S. California Ave.
According to prosecutors, Garcia was driving Molina home Saturday when Garcia sped up to try to pass a semitrailer heading southbound on Kedzie. The lane narrowed, Ramirez said, and Garcia struck the trailer — causing her own car to spin out and crash into a light pole.
Witnesses pulled Garcia and Molina from the car, which was smoking and leaking liquid, prosecutors said.
The crash was captured on surveillance footage.
Garcia, of suburban Carpentersville, is charged with aggravated DUI causing death. She has prior traffic convictions for speeding in a construction zone while workers were present, improper lane usage and driving while using a cellphone, prosecutors said.
Garcia recently failed to appear in court on allegations she ran a stop sign, according to Ramirez. As such, Garcia's license was slated to be suspended on Oct. 6. The license was still valid during Saturday's crash.
According to authorities, Garcia has prior misdemeanor convictions for domestic battery, battery and disorderly conduct.
Cook County Circuit Judge David Navarro on Wednesday said Garcia could be released on her own recognizance pending trial so long as she qualifies for electronic monitoring.
Garcia's booking photo was not available Wednesday because she was still hospitalized with crash injuries.
