July 21--A recent high school graduate drag racing drunk with his best friend on Lower Wacker Drive was charged with reckless homicide after the friend spun out, crashed and died early Saturday, Cook County prosecutors said.
Ivan Sanchez "is lucky to be alive," Judge Peggy Chiampas said when Sanchez, 18, appeared Monday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. "It's tragic -- tragic."
"It's tragic for two individuals and two families," replied Sanchez's attorney, Vincent Luisi Jr.
The 20-year-old who died was identified as Jose Luvianos Jr., of the 1500 block of West Hollywood Avenue in Chicago, according to court records and family members.
The crash took place about half a mile from a stretch on lower Lower Wacker Drive near the city pound, between Field Boulevard and Stetson Avenue, where young car enthusiasts gather each weekend to check out each other's cars, perform stunts and sometimes race. The Tribune highlighted the scene in a story that went online Friday.
Prosecutors said the two had been out with friends looking at cars when they began drag racing about 4:20 a.m. Saturday on Lower Wacker Drive.
Sanchez was driving a Jeep westbound when his friend, driving a BMW, attempted to cut between the Jeep and another car uninvolved in the race, prosecutors said. The BMW clipped the front of the Jeep, and both vehicles spun out. Sanchez suffered minor bruises, but his best friend, 20, was killed.
Sanchez was ordered held on $150,000 bail. Chiampas forbade him from driving if he makes bail.
Sanchez's family declined to comment after the hearing.
Chicago police said the 20-year-old's car hit a concrete column in the 0-100 block of West Lower Wacker Drive.
Sanchez, of the 1500 block of West Bryn Mawr Avenue, was charged with reckless homicide, felony aggravated DUI and four counts of misdemeanor DUI.
An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect last name for the victim of the crash.
sschmadeke@tribpub.com
