Solomon G. Aguilera, the man accused of killing one person and seriously injuring two others in a crash on First Avenue on March 29, pleaded not guilty to four felony charges during his arraignment on May 14 at the Maybrook courthouse. He made the plea in front of Judge Daniel Weber.
Police allege that the 27-year-old Aguilera was behind the wheel of a Ford Crown Victoria when he swerved over the center line and smashed head on into a Land Rover, killing 57-year-old Angelina Meza of Chicago, who was a front seat passenger in the Land Rover.
Meza’s 62-year-old sister, Margarita Rios, and her 44-year-old brother, David Meza, suffered serious injuries in the crash.
According to police, Aguilera was twice convicted of driving under the influence and, at the time of the crash, was driving on a revoked license. He was charged with aggravated DUI causing death, one count of reckless homicide and two counts of DUI causing bodily harm.
Aguilera has been in Cook County Jail since being charged with a cash bond set at $300,000. He must pay the full amount to be released on bail, police said, because he is considered a flight risk.
At Aguilera’s bond hearing, a Riverside police officer testified that he overheard Aguilera talking to his wife on the phone, telling her to gather the family’s belongings so they could flee once he was free on bail.
Aguilera is due back in court for a pretrial hearing in Room 107 of the Maybrook courthouse on June 16.
-Bob Uphues