Driver sentenced to 10 years for DUI crash that killed Brookfield man, injured state trooper

Daniel Clark, 34, of 5S751 Steeple Run Drive, Naperville, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday for the 2012 crash that killed Frank Caruso of Brookfield and seriously injured Illinois State Trooper Matthew Woodiel, according to a news release from DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin.

On Feb. 11, 2012, Woodiel parked his police cruiser behind Caruso's disabled car in the left and middle lanes of Interstate 290 in Addison east of Mill Road. Woodiel had his lights flashing at the time, and both he and Caruso were inside the police cruiser when Clark drove into the back of the cruiser at about 1:20 a.m.

The collision killed Caruso and left Woodiel serverely injured, according to the release.

An investigation found that Clark had a blood alcohol content of 0.19, more than twice the legal limit, and was talking on his cell phone as he drove at 73 mph preceding the crash.

Clark pleaded guilty July 22 to aggravated DUI causing great bodily harm, a Class 4 felony, before Judge Kathryn Creswell, who handed down the sentence Thursday.

According to the release, Clark began serving his sentence immediately. He has been out on bond since March 2012.

Clark will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.