Crime & Safety

Wrong-Way Driver in Fatal Crash Was 3 Times the Legal Limit: Sheriff

Nicholas Puccinelli, 19, of Burr Ridge, was charged Wednesday with aggravated DUI, according to the Cook County Sheriff's office. A 64-year-old Orland Park man was killed in the crash in Palos Township Tuesday.

A 19-year-old Burr Ridge man has been charged with aggravated DUI in Tuesday's crash that killed an Orland Park man.

Nicholas Puccinelli had a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit when the 2002 GMC Denali he was driving southbound in the northbound lane of La Grange Road struck a 2002 Nissan Sentra head-on near 105th Street, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office. He was charged on Wednesday.

The driver of the Sentra, a 64-year-old Orland Park man, was pronounced dead Tuesday at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to Cook County. He was reportedly on his way to work at 3:10 a.m. when he was hit by the Denali.

Find out what's happening in Paloswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Puccinelli also was treated at Advocate Christ Medical Center, where he was arrested by Cook County Sheriff's police. He is set to appear at 9 a.m. Thursday in Bridgeview bond court.

Follow Patch on Facebook for more updates:

Find out what's happening in Paloswith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.