McHENRY – An Island Lake man on Monday pleaded guilty to drunken driving charges stemming from a 2014 crash that temporarily landed a Johnsburg High School graduate in a medically induced coma.
Michael E. Smith, 49, of Island Lake, pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol and driving on a revoked license, according to a news release from McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally sent Monday evening.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 9.
His attorney, Dan Hofmann of Donahue and Walsh, was not available to comment.
On Nov. 2, 2014, Smith went to the Twisted Moose Bar in McHenry, where he drank 10 beers and took 10 shots of liquor, according to the release.
When Smith left, he drove his Ford Ranger into the wrong lane of traffic on River Road and collided with a Dodge Neon that was carrying four teens, the release stated.
Two of the teenagers in the Dodge Neon were seriously injured, according to the release.
As a result of the crash, 2014 Johnsburg High School graduate Jarett Wolff was placed into a medically induced coma that lasted 18 days, according to Northwest Herald reports at the time.
Smith later submitted to chemical testing, which revealed his blood-alcohol level was 0.225, according to the release.
His driving privileges previously have been revoked and he has three prior violations for driving under the influence of alcohol, the release stated.
Based on his prior DUI convictions, Smith faces a mandatory prison sentence. He also will be subject to Truth-in-Sentencing guidelines, which would require him to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, according to the release.
The case was investigated by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department and prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Michael Combs and Judy Shammo.
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