Joliet driver gets fiver years for striking pedestrian lying in street in aggravated DUI case

May 15

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that a Joliet man found guilty of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol has been sentenced to five years in prison for striking and killing a pedestrian who was lying in the street in July 2011.

Vincent E. Borgic, who was 59 at the time of the collision and is now 61, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak. Judge Bertani-Tomczak found him guilty at the conclusion of a bench trial that included testimony from roughly 20 witnesses.

Borgic, of 201 Logan Avenue, ran over Scott Zolecki on July 13, 2011 in the 1100 block of East Washington Street in Joliet. Zolecki was intoxicated and lying in the street when he was struck.

Borgic, who admitted coming from a bar, told police he never saw the victim before running him over with his Dodge Challenger at about 10:30 p.m. that night. He told police he had no idea what happened.

Civilian witnesses, however, testified at trial that other drivers avoided hitting Zolecki while he was in the street. Witnesses also reported that Borgic got out of his car and smoked a cigarette but made no attempt to help Zolecki.

While he showed no concern for the victim, Borgic stated in the presence of police and civilian witnesses that there had better be no damage to his vehicle. The defendant refused field sobriety tests and a breathalyzer, but a blood standard provided later at the hospital revealed a blood-alcohol level of .208.

Zolecki was rushed to Silver Cross Hospital and was later transferred to Loyola Medical Center, where he died on July 14, 2011. His death was determined to be related to head injuries he suffered. Blood from his head was found on the underside of Borgic’s Challenger.

In handing down the sentence, Judge Bertani-Tomczak noted that Borgic already was serving court supervision for a prior DUI when he struck Zolecki. Under Illinois Department of Corrections rules, Borgic must serve 85 percent of his sentence in the latest DUI.

State’s Attorney Glasgow thanked prosecutors Frank Byers and Andrew Kramer for securing a sentence that takes a dangerous drunken driver off our streets. He also credited Joliet Police, particularly Officer Shawn Wascher, for a first-rate investigation.

“One of the critical steps officers took at the scene was to place the defendant in front of a squad car with video recording equipment,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “This strengthened the case immensely by giving the judge the opportunity to witness Vincent Borgic’s callous behavior after he ran over Scott Zolecki.”