Benjamin Farraday Killed in Chicago DUI Accident
21-year-old driver charged with felony aggravated DUI following chain-reaction collision on the Eisenhower Expressway
Benjamin Farraday, 25, of Wheaton, was killed in a suspected drunk-driving crash on Interstate 290 near South Ashland Avenue in Chicago on Sunday, according to the Illinois State Police.
The chain-reaction collision occurred around 3 a.m. when a westbound GMC SUV rear-ended a Toyota SUV, pushing the vehicles into two other cars. Paramedics rushed seven people to area hospitals for treatment. Farraday, a passenger in the Toyota, later died from his injuries. Six other people suffered varying degrees of injuries in the wreck.
The driver of the SUV, Jose F. Perez Marin, 21, was arrested upon his release from the hospital and charged with three counts of felony aggravated DUI, including DUI involving death and driving without a valid license. He is currently being held at the Cook County Jail pending his first court appearance.
Troopers closed portions of the outbound Eisenhower Expressway for several hours while crash reconstructionists examined the scene. The crash remains under investigation.
While criminal charges address the state's case against the at-fault driver, the family of the deceased is left navigating a sudden and deep loss. In DUI accidents such as this, independent investigations are important to uncover all liable parties, including whether the driver was over-served at a local establishment prior to the 3 a.m. crash.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, said, "Alcohol-impaired driving remains one of the most preventable causes of fatal roadway collisions in the country, yet families continue suffering consequences that never should have happened."
How do criminal charges impact the civil case in Chicago?
The felony charges against the 21-year-old driver establish a strong foundation for liability, but families must still pursue separate civil actions to secure compensation.
According to Stefano Formica, who serves as a national legal analyst for Accident News and is of counsel at Bond Legal, "A legal team can engage independent reconstruction specialists, obtain event data recorder information, and review roadway lighting conditions that may have contributed to collision severity. Serving as an advocate, an attorney also guides surviving relatives through wrongful-death claim procedures, ensuring affected families receive fair consideration throughout complex legal and insurance processes."
What role does the lack of a valid license play in the I-290 crash?
Driving without a valid license compounds the negligence in impaired driving cases. According to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, the state records thousands of DUI arrests annually, with many offenders lacking proper driving privileges. Investigators will review the driver's history to determine how he obtained the vehicle and whether negligent entrustment played a role in the fatal collision.
Illinois wrongful death statute
Under 740 ILCS 180, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Illinois applies modified comparative fault (50% bar). The statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of society, and grief.