Deadly DUI charge against man who hit, killed 12-year-old boy dismissed

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — The case against a Decatur man accused of killing a 12-year-old boy while driving under the influence was dismissed Wednesday.

Macon County State's Attorney Diane Couri said in a news release that video footage, witness statements and reconstruction of the June 15 crash didn't support claims that Hassan Woods' intoxication caused Kavari Drisdell's death.

Couri said this was also confirmed by Illinois State Police and the Illinois State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor Office.

Woods pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated DUI causing death and aggravated DUI without valid insurance on June 25.

He will still be tried for aggravated DUI with no insurance, Couri said, but the charge for aggravated DUI causing death was dropped.

"This case is especially heartbreaking because it involves the death of a child," Couri said in a statement. "In all cases, the Macon County State's Attorney's Office can only do what the law allows."

Police say Drisdell 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, according to police. The legal limit for alcohol while driving is 0.08.

During a court appearance in June, Woods' attorney argued that Drisdell did not stop at the stop sign at King Street, and that Drisdell's cause of death wasn't related to Woods being impaired.

Woods returns to court for a pretrial hearing on Feb. 5.

He was released from custody at the Macon County Jail on Wednesday under the Pretrial Fairness Act.

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