Man who operated boat in fatal accident could face felony charges

HENNEPIN – A man operating a boat that crashed and killed one of his family members on Friday night on the Illinois River could be facing felony charges. According to Conservation Police Sergeant Phillip Wire, 48-year-old Audiel Ramirez of Schiller Park could potentially face felony charges for the boat crash that killed 53-year-old Audiel Trujillo-Perez. Wire says Ramirez was under the influence while he operated a four person fishing boat that carried five of his relatives along the Illinois River, seven miles south of Hennepin. It was reported that the boat struck a log, sending Trujillo-Perez into the river. Local firefighters searched for almost an hour before they recovered the man’s body. The Putnam County Death Investigators Office is awaiting final results from the autopsy.

The Putnam County Death Investigators Office is awaiting final results from the autopsy. The investigation is ongoing with the State of Illinois Conservation Police, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County States Attorney’s Office and the Putnam County Death Investigators Office.