Sai Kumar
Daniel J. Chavez, pictured, has been released on his own recognizance after striking and killing Sai Kumar with his car on Sunday.

CHICAGO (Diya TV) – Daniel J. Chavez, accused of aggravated DUI resulting in the death of Northern Illinois University Master’s student Sai Kumar Adluru, stood with his head hung low during his bond hearing until a DeKalb County judge ruled he be released on his own recognizance.

The 25-year-old Chavez was driving a gold 2006 Jeep Laredo east on an Illinois highway after midnight on Sunday when it crossed over into the westbound lane and crashed into a 1998 Toyota Camry driven by the 23-year-old Adluru. The college student was pronounced dead at the scene, according to court records.

A GoFundMe page has raised $40,238, more than twice its goal, to help Adluru’s family with the expenses of returning his body to his homeland, a funeral and other expenses.

DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office deputies said in court records that they found a glass pipe with suspected marijuana resin, as well as a metal grinder with traces of suspected marijuana, in Chavez’s Jeep. Tests performed on Chavez found his blood-alcohol content to be 0.076, and his urine positive for marijuana, according to court records.

Chavez was arrested at the hospital at 4:46 a.m. Sunday.

He is also is charged with two counts of aggravated DUI causing great bodily harm. Aggravated DUI is a Class 4 felony punishable by one to three years in prison, but with death or great bodily harm involved, sentence ranges can increase.

Assistant State’s Attorney Alesandra Friend asked that Chavez’s bond be set at $250,000.

“The defendant has never been convicted of any criminal offenses in the past – the purpose of bond being to ensure the defendant show up in court,” Chief Judge Robbin Stuckert said. “There’s been no failure to appears, as well. The court is also to take into consideration the ability of the individual to post bond.”

Chavez was placed on electronic home monitoring. This house arrest gave Chavez chance to find himself a criminal defense lawyer to help him fight his case. There are a number of reputable defense lawyers out there, such as those at flcrimedefense.com, that could help this man out. Whilst nothing is guaranteed, they could help persuade the judge to reduce his charges slightly.

Adluru’s passenger, Charishma Dudde, 23, was taken to Kishwaukee Hospital then flown to Rockford Memorial Hospital. She was in stable condition before undergoing surgery Sunday, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.