Man Detained For Fifth DUI In Crash That Killed Man, 21

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A Lake County judge has ordered a man accused of driving drunk and causing a fatal crash last summer — while on release for his 4th DUI — will remain behind bars as court proceedings move forward in his most recent DUI case, according to court records obtained by Patch.

Last week, a Lake County Judge ordered Kevin C. Kaminiski, 49, of Ingleside, remain detained at the Lake County Jail, denying a request for release or transport, according to court records.

The judge did allow a request to let Kaminiski go to an appointment for wound care at Condell Medical Center but denied a motion for him to attend oncology appointments in Orland Park.

Kaminski was charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence following an Aug. 24 head-on collision on Route 12 north of Route 134 in Fox Lake. Kaminski is accused of driving south in the northbound lanes of traffic on Highway 12 at about 9:40 p.m. on that date and crashing with a northbound Ford van.

The driver of the van, Anthony Herrera, 21, of Wauconda, was taken to Condell Medical Center in critical condition and later pronounced dead.

Additional charges were filed again Kaminiski last month, according to court records.

He now also faces a charge of aggrieved driving while under the influence of alcohol and a drug and one count of aggravated driving while under the influence of a drug.

Lab results show Kaminski was under the combined influence of alcohol and clonazepam during the August collision. Clonazepam is used to treat panic disorders, anxiety and seizures and court records show he was under the influence of the drug to a degree that made him "incapable of safely driving a motor vehicle."

This is Kaminiski's fifth DUI case.

In 2016, when Lake County was rolling out its "A Way Out" drug program, Kaminiski was featured in a video where he talks about his struggles with heroin.

He said the program gave addicts a better chance at recovery since they can get the help they need immediately, according to ABC 7 Chicago.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office became a participating agency in the A Way Out law enforcement pre-arrest diversion program in July 2017, according to the sheriff's office. The program was meant to reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal overdoses in Lake County by connecting individuals with substance use disorders ready for rehabilitation to addiction treatment services.

More information on the A Way Out program can be found online.