Police chase in Round Lake: Man convicted of fatal accident while driving while under the influence of alcohol

LAKE COUNTY, Illinois. – An Illinois man was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday for driving while under the influence of alcohol in 2020 when he was involved in a rollover crash that killed two of his passengers during a police chase.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of September 27, when Round Lake police attempted to stop Jose Aguirre's speeding Chevy Traverse. The vehicle eventually reached speeds of 122 mph (197 km/h) before the pursuit was called off for safety reasons.

Moments later, the vehicle crashed into a wooded area near Route 134 and Main Street, killing 34-year-old Juan Renteria-Becerra and 30-year-old Edgar Herrera.

“While we are disappointed that the sentence was not more severe, this prison sentence sends the right message that dangerous drivers in Lake County will be held accountable. And we continue to mourn with the victims of this horrific crime,” Lake County Prosecutor Eric Rinehart said in a statement.

Aguirre, 30, was convicted of drunken driving in June and was held on $1 million bail prior to his sentencing.