Joliet woman charged with reckless homicide in connection with fiery fatal crash

A Joliet woman has been charged with reckless homicide and driving under the influence in connection with a fiery wreck earlier this year that killed a clinical professional counselor, police said.

Maria Aiello, 46, of Joliet, was charged on Friday with causing the March 15 crash at the intersection of Glenwood and Springfield avenues that killed Ednalice Pagan-Romney, 50, of Aurora.

Judge Art Smigielski signed a $500,000 bond warrant for Aiello’s arrest on Friday. Aiello will need to post 10% of that amount for her release from custody.

The Joliet Police Department released a statement on Tuesday that said Aiello was “believed to be under the influence of controlled substances and in possession of a controlled substance at the time of the collision.”

When asked about the substance, Joliet police Sgt. Dwayne English said he was unable to release that information, especially since Aiello has not yet been arrested.

Prosecutors alleged in a criminal complaint that Aiello was unlawfully in possession of hydrocodone, an opioid pain relief drug.

Prosecutors alleged Aiello’s aggravated DUI violation was a “proximate cause” of Pagan-Romney’s death. The complaint did not specifically state what substance Aiello allegedly consumed at the time of the crash.

Prosecutors alleged Aiello was driving in excess of 20 mph over the speed limit of 30 mph, causing her vehicle to strike Pagan-Romney’s vehicle.

Aiello was driving a Chevy Trax when she slammed into the back of the Acura TLX Pagan-Romney was driving, according to a Joliet crash report. Pagan-Romney was stopped at a red light at the time of the crash, according to the crash report.

The Acura was pushed into a tree and burst into flames, police said.

Officers “attempted to extinguish the flames with multiple fire extinguishers long enough to remove the driver from the vehicle, however the fire would not cease,” a police report said.

“Multiple attempts were made to open the driver and passenger door of the vehicle, however the doors would not function,” the report said.

Pagan-Romney, the driver of the Acura, was found dead inside the vehicle.

Pagan-Romney’s office is two blocks from the crash scene.

English said Pagan-Romney suffered burns to her body but the Will County Coroner’s Office indicated her death was caused by multiple injuries suffered in a vehicle crash.

Aiello suffered serious injuries to her wrists and legs, English said.

A February 2017 press release said Aiello was hired as an investigator with the Will County Public Defender’s Office.

“Prior to joining the Will County Public Defender’s Office, she was employed by the Chief Judge’s Office of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court as a court Interpreter,” the press release said.

It was not clear as of Tuesday if Aiello is still employed with the public defender’s office. Calls to Will County Public Defender Michael Renzi and public defender’s office spokeswoman Michelle Palaro were not immediately returned.

The warrant signed Friday for Aiello’s arrest said she was employed by the public defender’s office.