DUI Charges Filed In I-55 Crash Minutes Before Officer Was Killed

PLAINFIELD, IL — A Plainfield man is charged in connection with an I-55 crash that happened just minutes before a second crash that killed an off-duty Berwyn officer. Rodrigo Marin, 42, is charged with two counts of felony aggravated DUI, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, improper lane use, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, failure to render aid, no valid driver's license and driving while license revoked.

State police said Marin's 2006 Nissan Titan was southbound on I-55 in an unknown lane just north of Route 30 around 6 a.m. Sunday. A Hino box truck driven by a Shorewood man was also heading south and was in the right exit lane to Route 30 when for unknown reasons, Marin lost control of the Nissan, crossing over and hitting the front left side of the box truck.

Cop Charged With DUI 'Completely Devastated' Over Officer's Death

Both cars came to rest in the right two lanes, Illinois State Police said. Marin is accused of leaving the scene and was located on foot not far from the crash site.

No injuries were reported in that initial crash, and Marin was taken into custody.

Just two minutes later, a 2019 Dodge Durange driven by off-duty Joliet Police Officer Erin Zilka smashed into the back of the Hino box truck, according to state police.

Zilka's passenger, 33-year-old off-duty Berwyn Police Officer Charles Schauer, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Zilka was taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and charged with misdemeanor DUI. She was also cited for driving too fast for conditions.

State police said Marin's arrest "is an open and ongoing investigation" and declined to release further information.