Crime & Safety

Wrong Way DUI Death Case Scheduled for Pre-Trial in January

Nicholas Puccinelli, 20, is charged with aggravated driving under the influence after police said he caused a vehicle crash near Palos that killed an Orland Park man.

A Burr Ridge man accused of causing the death of an Orland Park man during an early morning Palos-area car crash is getting closer to a trial.

Nicholas Puccinelli, 20, is facing a felony charge after John Anagnopoulos, 64, of Orland Park, died from injuries caused during the accident in March.

A pre-trial hearing date was set for Jan. 23 during a brief hearing Monday in Judge John Hynes’ Bridgeview courtroom. Negotiations are continuing between prosecuting and defense attorneys, but if a deal isn’t met by then, a trial date is expected to be set at the January hearing.

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Puccinelli was driving a GMC Denali south on LaGrange Road, when he swerved into the northbound lane near 105th Street and struck Anganopoulos’ Nissan Sentra head on around 3:10 a.m., according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

Toxicology tests later revealed Puccinelli had three times the legal blood-alcohol level in his system at the time. He also tested positive for cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, barbiturates and other drugs, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.

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Anagnopoulos was believed to be on his way to work when he was struck by the Denali.

A crash reconstruction report was turned over to attorneys on the case prior to the last hearing in October.

Puccinelli has pleaded not guilty to the charge, and remains free on $250,000 bail.

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