Plainfield Man Gets 10 Years in Fatal 'Road Rage' DUI

Two months after he was found guilty in a DUI crash that killed Gerald Puglise of Lombard, a Plainfield man learned his fate on Wednesday.

Michael Moreno, 32, was sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for causing a fatal crash that killed the 63-year-old Lombard man after a road rage incident with another vehicle in Naperville. Following the crash, Moreno tested positive for cocaine and marijuana.

On June 13, 2012, Moreno chased a vehicle driven by a Naperville teen westbound on Ogden Avenue. As he turned south on River Road, Moreno struck Puglise's motorcycle. Puglise was pronounced dead at the scene.

Moreno fled the crash scene in his car, and was apprehended by Naperville police a short time later. He tested positive for the drugs when he was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

In March, DuPage County Judge George Bakalis found Moreno guilty of two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs involving death, one count of aggravated leaving the scene of an accident involving death and one count of disorderly conduct.

“Mr. Moreno’s decision to operate a motor vehicle with illegal drugs in his system cost an innocent man his life,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a press release.  “What is particularly disheartening about this case is that this tragedy was completely avoidable. With drugs in his system, Mr. Moreno never should have been behind the wheel of a car that afternoon. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Gerald Puglise on their loss."

Under sentencing guidelines, Moreno is required to serve slightly more than seven years before he will be eligible for parole.

Related: Plainfield Man Guilty in Road Rage DUI Death