GhLinks Media
Kali Rynearson, a 30-year-old woman from the North Center neighborhood of Chicago is facing charges of aggravated DUI leading to death and several traffic violations in connection to a fatal crash that occurred last month in Ravenswood.
Kali Rynearson is accused of striking and killing 59-year-old bicyclist Donald Heggemann on October 23rd as he was riding in a bike lane along the 5100 block of North Damen Avenue.
According to police reports, Rynearson was driving a Volvo sedan when she struck Heggemann from behind.
Witnesses to the crash flagged down a passing police car, and officers were able to locate Rynearson’s vehicle, which had fled the scene.
Upon questioning, Rynearson reportedly failed to perform a field sobriety test and consented to a Breathalyzer test.
The results of the test revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.20, more than double the legal limit of 0.08.
Additionally, a search of Rynearson’s vehicle yielded a half-empty 750ml plastic bottle of whiskey in her purse.
Investigators also obtained footage from a nearby POD camera, which showed Rynearson driving in the bike lane prior to the collision.
If convicted of the aggravated DUI leading to death charge, Rynearson faces a potential prison sentence of three to fourteen years. She was released from custody on Saturday and is scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday.
