An Aurora man intentionally drove the wrong way on the Dan Ryan Expressway to scare a woman who was riding in his car and force her to answer questions about their relationship, prosecutors said Monday. The stunt ended in a high-speed head-on crash that killed the woman.
At a detention hearing Monday, prosecutors said Juan Ruiz Huerta, 29, admitted he drove the wrong way to scare 28-year-old Victory Swanigan and “get an answer from her.” Now, he’s charged with first-degree murder.
Just before 6 p.m. Friday, Ruiz Huerta was driving northbound on the Dan Ryan with Swanigan as his passenger when the two began arguing about their relationship, according to Illinois State Police and prosecutors. Ruiz Huerta had been trying to become Swanigan’s boyfriend for months, prosecutors said.
As traffic slowed near 31st Street, Swanigan yelled to a passing police squad car for help. Ruiz Huerta then turned the vehicle around and began driving south in the northbound express lanes at a high rate of speed, ISP said.
Swanigan was on FaceTime as Ruiz Huerta drove the wrong way down the expressway and the other person on the call heard Swanigan screaming at Ruiz Huerta to slow down and reminding him that she had children, prosecutors said during the detention hearing.
Ruiz Huerta continued weaving through traffic until, traveling about 80 mph near 53rd Street, he slammed head-on into another vehicle, officials said. The force of the crash sent Ruiz Huerta’s vehicle flying over the concrete median barrier. Swanigan was pronounced dead at the scene. Ruiz Huerta and the other driver were seriously injured.
During Monday’s detention hearing, prosecutors said Ruiz Huerta told investigators he drove the wrong way on the expressway to scare Swanigan and “get an answer from her.”
Judge James Costello ordered him detained pending trial.
