A woman has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol in connection with a crash that injured two children in her car.

Lisa Tegeler, 39, of the 39W0-99 block of Herrington Boulevard near Geneva, also is charged with several counts of aggravated DUI-injuring a child under the age of 16.

The crash happened about 11:45 p.m. Dec. 30 in the 42W000 block of Hughes Road near Elburn.

Tegeler was driving a Honda CRV west on Hughes Road when it went off the road, turned on its side and came to a rest in a ditch, according to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office.

Tegeler’s daughter, age 8, and another girl, age 7, were injured. The 7-year-old suffered a deep cut to her head that had to be closed with staples, Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa Scott said. Both girls were treated at a hospital and released.

Scott asked that Tegeler be detained pretrial, arguing she is a danger to her daughter and the community. She said Tegeler had a blood-alcohol content of .152, almost twice the legal intoxication limit. She also had 15 nanograms per milliliter of cannabinoids in her blood; the legal limit for driving is 5.

Scott said Tegeler told deputies she drank vodka and smoked cannabis that day.

Tegeler was charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol and unlawful possession of a controlled substance in July 2023. She pleaded guilty to the drug charge and the DUI charge was dropped.

She was convicted twice of DUI in 2008, Scott said.

Tegeler is charged with aggravated DUI-third violation, aggravated DUI-great bodily harm, aggravated DUI-bodily harm to a child under 16, DUI, endangering the life, health or welfare of a child, possession of cannabis by a driver, child restraint violation under age 8, violation of an order of protection, operating a vehicle while using an electronic communication device, improper lane use and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

The order of protection she is accused of violating was issued in April 2023. It ordered her to not consume cannabis or alcohol within 24 hours before driving her daughter.

Kane County Judge Salvatore LoPiccolo granted her pretrial release Jan. 2. Tegeler will have to wear an alcohol-monitor anklet and take random drug and alcohol urine tests weekly.

Tegeler also is prohibited from driving any person under the age of 18, including her daughter, and from having unsupervised contact with her daughter.

Tegeler’s attorney argued the charges alleging great bodily harm are improper because a wound that only requires stitches or staples does not constitute great bodily harm.

https://www.dailyherald.com/20240102/crime/woman-charged-with-dui-in-crash-that-injured-children/