Driver In DUI Crash That Killed Hometown Cop Held On $1M Bail

HOMETOWN, IL — An Oak Lawn man has been charged with fatally striking a Hometown police officer who was directing traffic in the early morning hours of April 3 for an unrelated DUI crash, prosecutors said. Otis Pruitt, 27, was charged with reckless homicide. Bail was set at $1 million during a bond hearing Monday afternoon at the Bridgeview Courthouse.

Lt. James Kouski, 58, was a 34-year-veteran of the Hometown Police Department. Kouski was born and raised in Hometown, and lived at New Lenox at the time of his death. Kouski worked the night shift and was directing traffic away from a fallen light police around 3 a.m. Saturday for an unrelated DUI accident near 90th Street and Pulaski Road.

Kouski was wearing a traffic safety vest and directing traffic outside his squad car, that had its emergency lights on. A witness saw Pruitt’s car driving erratically as it emerged from a parking lot, which nearly sideswiped the witness’s car, the prosecutor said.

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According to the charges, the driver, later identified as Pruitt, drove at a high rate of speed at least 20 miles over the posted speed limit of 40 mph. While traveling north down Pulaski, witnesses allege that the driver continued to drive recklessly. The prosecutor said Pruitt tried to overtake another vehicle while speeding.

Pruitt’s vehicle nearly flipped over as another vehicle slowed to avoid an accident, the prosecutor said. Witnesses told police that Pruitt was seen swerving in and out of traffic on Pulaski. As Pruitt approached Kouski’s squad car, the officer was standing outside his vehicle when Pruitt slammed into the rear passenger door of the squad car, the prosecutor said.

Kouski was thrown 40 to 50 feet into the roadway, the prosecutor said. He was unconscious and bleeding from the head. The police officer was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

As Kouski lay in the roadway, the prosecutor said Pruitt exited and reentered his vehicle several times. Video showed Pruitt revving his engine and hitting a guardrail as he tried to flee the scene. Eventually Pruitt walked away from the accident, according to the charges. A neighbor called police and gave a description of a man in a backyard in the 4000 block of West 90th Place.

Oak Lawn police found Pruitt in the backyard where he was taken into custody. According to officers, Pruitt’s speech was slurred and his breath smelled of alcohol. The prosecutor said the same officers also had to assist Pruitt as he walked to the squad car.

About three-and-a-half hours after the crash, Pruitt was taken to Advocate Christ, where a blood draw was taken. The prosecutor said Pruitt’s blood-alcohol content was .156, over the .08 legal limit. Police determined the vehicle that hit the police officer was registered to Pruitt.

The Cook County Medical Examiner determined that Kouski suffered fractures to his skull and vertebrae, which detached his spinal column from his brain.

Cook County Sheriff’s Police and the Illinois State Police conducted an investigation and on Sunday, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges of reckless homicide, felony DUI and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, also known s Scott’s Law.

Pruitt allegedly told police that he was alone in his car and left the scene of a major accident.

The prosecutor said that Pruitt was convicted of delivery of a concealed firearm to a minor in 2013. He was sentenced to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. According to the 2013 charges, the minor pointed the gun and fired it at one of the sellers. Gunfire was returned when and the minor was killed.

Pruitt also has a speeding conviction from 2019, and a bond forfeiture from 2018. The prosecutor asked the court to set a substantial bond. Pruitt remains hospitalized and was not present for the bond hearing.

Bail was set at $1 million. Pruitt is also prohibited from driving and from contacting the officer’s family and witnesses while his case pending. He is also prohibited from indulging in any drugs or alcohol. Pruitt’s next hearing is April 9 at the Bridgeveiw Courthouse.

This story has been updated with new information from the Cook County Sheriff's Office correcting the age of the driver.