Man charged with DUI in crash that killed 2 on Far South Side

The Leighton Criminal Courthouse at 26th and California. | Sun-Times file

A South Chicago man accused of driving drunk before crashing into and killing a young couple on the Far South Side was ordered held on $100,000 bail Tuesday.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on May 31, Christopher Sandifer sped through a red light at 95th Street and Jeffrey Avenue and slammed his Jeep Renegade into Eugene Figure’s Nissan Rogue as he was making a left turn, Cook County prosecutors said.

Figures, 21, and Lakeya Hines, 20, were taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, but died later that day from the injuries they suffered the crash, prosecutors said.

Christopher Sandifer

Sandifer was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where his blood-alcohol level was recorded at 0.221, more than double the legal limit of 0.08, prosecutors said.

Sandifer, who has been charged with aggravated DUI and reckless homicide, also allegedly tested positive for amphetamines.

Sandifer, 30, has previous convictions for aggravated battery, domestic battery and retail theft, prosecutors said.

An assistant public defender said Sandifer was working as a mover and did home repairs. He was recently looking to start his own business to support his girlfriend and their three children, the assistant public defender said.

Sandifer is expected back in court on Nov. 2.