Bond set for crashing car in Aurora pond

Bond Set at $500,000 for Woman Accused of Crashing Car Into Pond, Leaving Six-Year-Old Son in Vehicle

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced today that bond has been set for a Cicero woman accused of crashing her car into an Aurora pond, leaving her six-year-old son in the submerged vehicle. Gladys Ruvira-Garcia, 31 (d.o.b. 9/30/1986) of 5636 W. 22nd Place, Cicero, appeared in bond court this morning where Judge Joseph Bugos set bond at $500,000 with 10% to apply.

It is alleged that in the early morning hours of October 15, 2017, Ruvira-Garcia was driving her vehicle with four other occupants, her adult sister, two teenagers and her six-year-old son, near Eola and Diehl Road. It is alleged that Ruvira-Garcia lost control of her vehicle and crashed her vehicle into a retention pond.

It is further alleged that following the crash, Ruvira-Garcia, her sister and the two teenagers were able to escape the sinking vehicle but left Ruvira-Garcia’s six-year-old son behind as the vehicle sank into the water. Aurora police officers arrived at the scene and were able to extricate the boy from the vehicle. He was immediately taken to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition in a medically induced coma. Ruvira-Garcia was taken into custody at the scene of the crash. An investigation into the crash revealed that Ruvira-Garcia allegedly had a blood alcohol content above 0.14.

“Like all alleged DUI cases, the situation Ms. Ruvira-Garcia finds herself in today was 100% avoidable,” Berlin said. “As I have said numerous times in the past, if you have been drinking, do not drive. It is a very simple concept but unfortunately, far too many times, people fail to heed this advice and tragedy follows, as is alleged in this case. I would like to thank the Aurora Police Department as well as the Aurora Fire Department Dive Team for their heroic efforts in rescuing the young boy from the submerged vehicle. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Jim French for his efforts in securing a strong prosecution against this defendant.”

Ruvira-Garcia’s next court appearance is scheduled for October 30, 2017, in front of Judge Liam Brennan. She has been charged with three counts of Aggravated DUI, a Class 4 Felony, along with several traffic offenses including Driving Without a Valid Driver’s License.

Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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