Prosecutors: Driver was nearly 6 times over legal limit in deadly crash

A 27-year-old man was nearly six times over the legal limit when he plowed head-on into another car, fatally wounding a 12-yearold girl and injuring four other people Wednesday night in the Vittum Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side, prosecutors said.

Daniel Regalado, of the Little Village neighborhood, appeared before Judge David Navarro, who set a $500,000 bail on Saturday afternoon during a bond hearing that was broadcast live on YouTube.

Regalado, charged with felony reckless homicide, aggravated DUI and two counts of misdemeanor driving while under the influence of alcohol, needs to come up with $50,000 cash to go free until his next court date.

Regalado was behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Impala in the multi-vehicle crash about 9:35 p.m. that day in the 4900 block of South Cicero Avenue, police and prosecutors alleged.

The dark gray Impala was northbound in the median on Cicero, disregarding the lane marks, before it veered into southbound traffic hitting a gold Cadillac Escalade head-on, according to police and a crash report.

The girl, 12-year-old Cire Robinson, was inside the Escalade.

Prosecutors said Regalado was going 66 mph in a 30 mph zone just before the crash, and Regalado was found to have a blood alcohol content of .457, which is nearly six times the legal limit. In Illinois, a person is considered drunk if he or she has a BAC of at least .08.

A southbound red Toyota RAV4 also hit the Escalade after not being able to stop in time.

A Lyft driver captured video of the crash and showed it to officers, the report said. The video showed the Impala speeding in the median and the crash.

Regalado dislocated his hip and was taken to Stroger Hospital in serious condition, police said. He was also arrested, the crash report stated.

Cire, of Oak Lawn, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she was pronounced dead at 10:32 p.m. An autopsy determined she died of multiple injuries from the wreck, and her death was ruled an accident, according to the Cook

County medical examiner’s office.

A 51-year-old man, who was the driver of the Escalade, fractured his right ankle and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said.

Also in the Impala was a 21-year-old woman who had “severe stomach injuries.” She was taken to Advocate Christ in critical condition, police said. A 19-year-old woman, who was also in the Impala, had face injuries and was taken to Advocate Christ in serious condition. A 40-yearold male driver of the RAV4 did not appear to have any injuries and refused treatment at the scene, police said.

Regalado was arrested in 1900 block of West Ogden Avenue on Thursday around 1:45 a.m., police said.

Regalado has several prior convictions, including for domestic battery, and he was out on bond on a felony case at the time of the crash, prosecutors said.

Regalado, of the 2100 block of South California Avenue, who was also cited with several traffic tickets, was due back in court on Monday.