Bartlett Man Sentenced In Fatal DUI Crash

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL — A 38-year-old Bartlett man has been sentenced to seven years in prison in connection with a 2018 drunken driving crash that claimed the life of a 29-year-old Glendale Heights man, prosecutors said. Mario Gonzales, of the 300 block of Donna Court in Bartlett, appeared for his sentencing hearing Thursday in DuPage County.

Gonzales will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole, according to a news release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. In December, Gonzales entered a blind guilty plea to an aggravated driving under the influence charge.

Authorities say the collision occurred at about 1:50 a.m. on Sept. 21, 2018, when Gonzales ran a red light while headed west on Lake Street at Swift Road in Addision and collided with 29-year-old Fredy Loyo's car. Loyo was on his way to work at the time, according to prosecutors.

Gonzales' vehicle was traveling at 86 mph at the time of the collision, authorities said. His blood alcohol concentration was .19, which is more than twice the legal limit of .08, one hour after the crash.

“Mr. Gonzales’ incredibly reckless behavior that night, cost Fredy Loyo his life,” DuPage County State's Attorney Berlin said. “While Fredy’s friends and family are still grieving their loss, perhaps today’s sentencing of the man responsible for his death will help them gain some measure of closure in this horrible chapter in their lives. And perhaps Mr. Gonzales’ seven-year sentence will help him realize the magnitude of what he has done and the pain and suffering he has caused because of his decision to get behind the wheel after he had been drinking."