Bail was set at $300,000 Wednesday for a Zion man charged with multiple felonies, including aggravated DUI, related to the death of a woman in a May 13 crash in Grayslake.
Shawn Flores was arrested Tuesday following an investigation into the crash by the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team, according to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Flores, 26, was allegedly trying to pass another vehicle while eastbound on Route 120 and ran head-on into a westbound car driven by 54-year-old Malia Johnson, according to police and prosecutors.
Johnson was the former owner and operator of Hainesville Chiropractic in Hainesville.
The crash occurred just before 11 p.m. May 13 on Route 120 near Battershall Road and trapped Johnson in her vehicle, according to Grayslake police.
Firefighters extricated Johnson from the vehicle and paramedics took her to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where she was declared dead at 12:23 a.m. May 14, police said.
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Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Ori said Flores is charged with several felony counts of aggravated DUI resulting in death, including counts alleging he was legally drunk at the time of the crash, under the influence of drugs, was under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs, and had a controlled substance in his bloodstream.
He also is charged with reckless homicide, improper overtaking causing death and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, also felonies.
Flores faces misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia as well, Ori said.
Ori said any sentences resulting from a conviction or guilty plea would be served concurrently at 85 percent, and Flores is facing a maximum of 14 years in prison if convicted of aggravated DUI, the most serious charge.
Although Flores was just charged this week, Johnson’s estate filed a civil lawsuit against Flores in May seeking in excess of $50,000 from Flores and a bar near Grayslake the suit alleges he was drinking at prior to the crash. The suit was filed by the law firm of Dudley & Lake in Libertyville.
The lawsuit claims Flores was driving while intoxicated and he consumed “numerous alcoholic beverages” sold to him prior to the crash.
“The family is simply devastated by Malia’s death. She was a compassionate and caring wife, mother and physician,’ attorney Matthew Dudley said after announcing the filing of the lawsuit.
An autopsy concluded Johnson died from multiple trauma due to the crash.
Flores remained in custody of the Lake County Jail Wednesday afternoon, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. A status of attorney appearance has been scheduled Monday for Flores in bond court.
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