A Cook County judge set bail on Thursday at $50,000 for a Texas man accused of being the driver in a Sept. 5 drunk-driving crash near Hickory Hills that killed his best friend.
Michael Thurber, 29, of Minnie, Texas, and a back seat passenger were hospitalized after the crash, prosecutors said. The passenger, who authorities did not identify, later died from his injuries.
Thurber is charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, according to court records.
The crash occurred as Thurber was pulling his vehicle off of Interstate 294 at 95th Street, prosecutors said.
According to his defense attorney, Thurber suffered multiple broken bones, has left-side nerve damage and is suffering from short-term memory loss from the crash. The passenger was his best friend, also from Texas, and his family was present in court on Thursday, according to the attorney.
Thurber admitted to drinking before getting behind the wheel, prosecutors said. A blood draw performed on Thurber at the hospital indicted a blood-alcohol level of 0.16.
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According to prosecutors, Thurber has a previous conviction out of Texas for driving while intoxicated and does not have a valid Texas license.
According to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Thurber posted bond and was released Thursday afternoon. He is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 11.
Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.