DUI Driver Sentenced to 18 Years for Fatal Dan Ryan Expressway Crash That Claimed Two Lives

June 2, 2025 — Chicago, IL — A Cook County judge has sentenced a Chicago man to 18 years in prison for a deadly DUI crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway that killed two people and injured several others in a high-speed collision that authorities say was “entirely preventable.”

Marcus Leary, 32, was convicted earlier this year of aggravated DUI resulting in death and reckless homicide after a jury found he was intoxicated and speeding at over 100 mph when his Dodge Charger slammed into a vehicle carrying a family of four near 47th Street just after 2 a.m. on August 19, 2023.

The crash killed Carlos Jiménez, 45, and Elena Martinez, 42, both residents of Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, and left their two teenage children hospitalized with serious injuries. Leary, who had a prior DUI arrest in 2018, suffered minor injuries and was taken into custody at the scene.

During sentencing Monday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Judge Raquel Mitchell called Leary’s actions “a devastating act of selfishness,” adding that his decision to drive under the influence had “shattered a family and scarred a community.”

Prosecutors presented evidence showing Leary’s blood alcohol concentration was nearly twice the legal limit, and surveillance footage from Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) cameras showed him weaving through traffic minutes before the crash.

Relatives of the victims gave emotional impact statements in court. “My brother and his wife were just coming home from a family celebration,” said Maria Jiménez. “Now their children are orphaned. That’s the consequence of one man’s reckless decision.”

Leary apologized briefly before sentencing but offered no explanation for his actions. His defense attorney had argued for a reduced sentence, citing his client’s struggles with addiction and lack of intent to harm.

Under Illinois law, Leary must serve at least 85% of his sentence, meaning he will spend over 15 years in prison before being eligible for parole.