Aurora Man Charged with DUI in Fatal Naperville Crash

AURORA, IL — Aurora resident, 34-year-old Michael W. Vera, is charged with aggravated driving under the influence for a crash last November on Naper Boulevard that killed a passenger. Vera is being held in the Kane County jail on a $1 million bond.

According to the Naperville Police Department, Vera was driving intoxicated when he drove off the road and into a tree, fatally wounding his passenger 37-year-old David R. Dokken.

The accident happened at about 2:35 a.m. on November 23, 2016 when Vera was driving a 1997 Ford Explorer on Naper Boulevard just south of Ogden Avenue. The SUV hit a tree, seriously injuring Dokken, of Aurora, who later died from his injuries at Edward Hospital in Naperville, according to police.

Dokken was a graduate of West Aurora High School, according to his obituary.

Evidence from the investigation such as lab results led to Vera’s charge of an aggravated DUI, police Cmdr. Lou Cammiso said.

The charge was approved by the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

The DUI charge was served to Vera Wednesday at the Kane jail where he is being held on unrelated domestic battery and theft/display merchandise charges.

Arrest does not imply guilt, and criminal charges are merely accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty and convicted.

(Photo: Michael W. Vera, Kane County Sheriff's Office)