Truck Driver Charged With 9 DUIs After Kennedy Expressway Crash

CHICAGO — A truck driver is accused of causing a fatal crash on the Kennedy Expressway Sunday night that involved at least seven vehicles and killed one man, according to police and prosecutors. Reny Ramirez Orts was charged Wednesday with nine counts of driving under the influence.

Police said Orts hit the back of 50-year-old Marvin White's car while traveling 40-70 mph. White had slowed down due to construction.

The initial crash caused a chain reaction among at least five other vehicles, police said. White's car burst into flames, killing the man.

According to state police, the multi-vehicle crash took place around 11:15 p.m. Sunday on the Kennedy Expressway near Natoma Avenue.

Assistant State's Attorney James Murphy said Orts was driving a box truck at the time. He and eight others were injured in the crash and taken to the hospital, where Orts refused a DUI test, according to police. However, prosecutors said blood and urine samples taken at the hospital revealed his blood-alcohol level to be 0.13. The legal limit for BAC is 0.08.

Orts and two others remained in the hospital on Wednesday. Prosecutors showed video of Orts getting out of the box truck taken from an Illinois state trooper's dash cam.

Orts is being held on a $250,000 bail and will not be allowed to drive if he is able to post bond. He is scheduled to reappear in court on Nov. 1.