Decatur man accused of killing a 12-year-old boy while driving drunk, pleads not guilty

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — A man accused of hitting and killing a 12-year-old boy while driving under the influence pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday.

Hassan Woods, 45, of Decatur, was arrested on June 16 for aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol causing death.

According to police, Kavari Drisdell, 12, was riding his bike just after 5 p.m. on June 15 near the intersection of North Van Dyke Street and West King Street when he was hit by a Dodge Challenger driven by Woods.

Woods' breath sample taken on the scene was 0.176. The legal limit for alcohol while driving is 0.08.

Woods appeared in court on Wednesday, where his attorney argued that the child did not stop at the stop sign at King Street, and that Drisdell's cause of death was unrelated to Woods being impaired.

The defense argued for Woods' to be released under the state's pre-trial fairness act. The judge denied the request. Woods remains in custody.

His next hearing date is scheduled for August 4.