The tragic news of two high school sweethearts, Amelia Mazeikis and D’Shaun Tudela, being killed in a car crash just weeks after their graduation from Schaumburg High School has left their families and the local community in deep mourning.
On June 10th, Mazeikis was taking Tudela to work when their vehicle was struck by a man who is being charged with two counts of driving under the influence and two counts of reckless homicide. Mazeikis was driving, and both 18-year-olds were pronounced dead at a local hospital. The incident occurred in Hoffman Estates, near Higgins and Barrington roads, and while two other groups involved in the crash sustained non-life-threatening injuries, Mazeikis and Tudela tragically lost their lives.
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The families of the victims have set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the funeral expenses. Tudela’s mother described how her son’s dream of becoming a Japanese cuisine chef had been “shattered,” while Mazeikis was remembered by her loved ones as a talented artist, gymnast, and animal lover. The police suspect that alcohol may have played a role in the crash, and the case is still under investigation. The driver responsible for causing the accident, Deni Rubio, is currently facing five felonies and is scheduled to have a bond hearing.
The loss of these two young lives has devastated their families and friends. Amelia’s mother expressed her heartbreak and devastation over the loss of her daughter, who had just graduated from high school. D’Shaun’s family described him as a good kid with a bright future ahead of him, who had plans to attend Harper College in the fall. Both families are struggling to come to terms with their loss, and student services staff will be available at Schaumburg High School for anyone requiring support.
When it comes to drunk driving, Chicago has a serious problem. According to the DUI Fact Book, there were 1,195 crash fatalities in Illinois in 2020, and 254 people died in alcohol-related crashes. Shockingly, one in five fatal accidents in the state are caused by drunk driving.
While Illinois doesn’t make the top 10 states with the most recorded drunk drivers, there is still a high occurrence of drunk driving. The average BAC of DUI offenders is .17, which is significantly higher than the legal limit of .08. There are various reasons why people choose to drive under the influence, with social and environmental influences being among them.
Cultural drinking habits can contribute to people feeling more comfortable getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. Illinois residents are thought to self-report a rate of 475 impaired driving incidents per 1,000, which is a rate 138 times higher than the rate of people arrested for DUIs in the state.
The consequences of drunk driving are severe and can be deadly. According to reports, in 2022 alone, there were 27,046 DUI arrests in Illinois, with males accounting for 75% of those arrested and 57% being under the age of 35. There were also 254 alcohol-related deaths, which highlights just how dangerous it is to drink and drive.
If caught driving under the influence in Chicago or other areas in Illinois, a person can be arrested if their BAC is between 0.05 percent and 0.08 percent.
Image via Handout / ABC7 Chicago