Luis Benito, Teen Who Drove SUV Into House, Had Been Drinking, Driving Recklessly: Cops

Cops: Teen Who Drove SUV Into House Was Drunk, Wild

Early last Saturday morning, 17-year-old Luis Benito drove his SUV through the wall of a Bolingbrook apartment, crushing and killing Josefina Prospero in her bed.

At his court appearance Monday, prosecutors revealed that the crash was the end of a wild night for Benito.

When Benito made it to the hospital, his blood-alcohol level was .204, more than twice the legal limit of .08; at the time of the accident, it's likely his blood alcohol was a great deal higher.

Benito had been out with a friend at the nearby Rancho Santa Fe nightclub, attending a dance. Afterward, he was spotted doing donuts in the club's parking lot, behind the wheel of the 2002 Chevy Blazer, the Chicago Tribune reports.

As he and his friend left the club, the bouncer shined a flashlight at them through their windshield. Benito responded by driving the Blazer directly at him, forcing the bouncer to dodge the car, according to assistant state's attorney Debbie Mills, according to the Joliet Herald-News.

According to the Tribune, Benito was visibly upset during the hearing, repeatedly breaking down in tears and slamming his head against the microphone. He appeared shocked to hear that Prospero had been killed in the accident.

Benito was charged with four felony counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and faces up to 14 years in prison. His bail was set at $1 million.

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