Bail Set for Cop Accused in Drunken Crash That Killed DePaul Student, Friend

Bail has been set at $500,000 for a suburban police officer who officials say caused a fatal Lake Shore Drive crash on Friday morning. One of the victims was a student at Lincoln Park's DePaul University.

Police say North Chicago police officer Terrell Garrett is to blame for the crash. He reportedly entered Lake Shore Drive's southbound lanes and drove north around 4 a.m. Friday. The fatal crash occurred near the Lincoln Park and Lake View border between Belmont Avenue and Diversey Parkway, according to police.

Garrett was charged during a weekend bond hearing with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence and two counts of reckless homicide, according to Chicago Police News Affairs.

"During the hearing, prosecutors said Terrell Garrett's blood alcohol content after Friday's wreck was measured at 0.184, which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08," reports Huffington Post Chicago. " ... Witnesses said Garrett's car was driving at least 60 mph as it sped in the wrong direction on the scenic highway, where the speed limit is 45 mph, according to prosecutors. The collision totaled both vehicles and killed 25-year-old Joaquin Garcia and his friend Fabian Torres, 27."

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Torres was a student at DePaul and was with friend, Garcia, in a Jeep vehicle. Garrett, 35, was celebrating his birthday late Thursday, according to reports.

He remained in serious condition Monday at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. He didn't attend his status hearing, Huffington Post Chicago reports.

But WGN news says the victims' families were there. The groups were protesting in favor of a higher bond, according to the report.

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