A Morris man has been arrested and charged in connection with a fatal weekend crash on U.S. 6 that killed his girlfriend.
According to Kevin Callahan, chief deputy of the Grundy County Sheriff's Department, deputies took Chad R. Marks, 33, into custody after he was released from OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria on a charge of aggravated driving under the influence, a Class 2 felony.
Callahan said deputies were called to the crash, which was at U.S. 6 near Long Point Road, west of Morris, at about 1:20 a.m Sunday. Marks allegedly was driving northbound on U.S. 6 at a high rate of speed when he attempted to pass a vehicle on the right side of the road. At that point, he lost control of the vehicle and struck two trees, and the vehicle then crossed U.S. 6., striking a semi-trailer.
Callahan said Marks was ejected from the vehicle at some point. His girlfriend, passenger Brittany L. Judy, 26, of Ottawa, was determined to have been wearing a seat belt during the crash, according to a Grundy County Coroner's Office release. She was extricated from the vehicle by fire crews from Seneca and Morris, but was pronounced dead at about 2:25 a.m. by Grundy County Coroner John Callahan.
Kevin Callahan said Marks was taken to OSF Saint Francis following the crash for his injuries, which were apparently non-life threatening. He would not disclose information about Marks' blood alcohol level, citing the pending case.
Marks was held on $5,000 bond at the Grundy County jail.