Princeton man charged with aggravated DUI in fatal Friday crash

Cain faces 3-14 years if convicted in rollover that killed Wyanet woman

A Princeton man has been charged with aggravated DUI for his role in a Friday accident that killed his passenger on Interstate 80 near Ottawa.

Nicholaus J. Cain, 27, of 803 S. Church St. faces 3-14 years in prison, with only a limited shot at probation, if convicted of being intoxicated at the time of the rollover crash that killed Erica N. Maloy, 40, of Wyanet. Cain was injured, as well.

The La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the felony charge, state police said, and a warrant was issued fixing bond at $250,000. He needs to post $25,000 to be released from La Salle County Jail.

Court dates are pending, but his case is assigned to Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr.

State police said the accident happened at 6:34 a.m. Friday on I-80 near the Route 71 exit. Cain’s 2000 blue Chevrolet pickup was traveling west when, for unknown reasons, it entered the right ditch and rolled, entrapping both occupants.

Cain was transported to a local area hospital but then taken into custody later Friday. The passenger, subsequently identified as Maloy, also was transported but pronounced deceased.

Westbound traffic was diverted nearly four hours for the crash investigation and clean-up. All lanes were reopened at 10:41 a.m., police said.