The off-duty Chicago police detective accused of drunken driving and causing an accident that killed two people Friday morning was released from the hospital today and is in the custody of police.
His bond hearing was rescheduled and he will appear in court Sunday morning, officials said.
Joseph Frugoli, 41, slammed into a disabled car on the Dan Ryan Expressway early Friday, igniting the fiery crash that killed two people, authorities said. Frugoli, who sources say was drunk with a blood alcohol content three times the legal threshold, was charged Friday evening with two counts each of reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence and one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving death.
Frugoli's attorney, Greg Smith, left the courthouse at 26th Street and California Avenue without comment. The family of one of the victims in the crash, Fausto Manzera, was in the courthouse as well but also left without comment.
The Chicago Police Department said it has launched an internal investigation and has relieved the detective of his police powers. Frugoli, an 18-year veteran, worked in the Wentworth Area on the South Side.
Andrew Cazares, 23, of the 7700 block of West 62nd Place in southwest suburban Summit and Manzera, 21, of Chicago died in the crash, which occurred a little after 3:35 a.m. north of 18th Street on the southbound Dan Ryan Expressway. Cazares apparently had pulled his red Dodge over to the side of the Dan Ryan, possibly to deal with a flat tire, when the vehicle was struck from the rear by a Lexus SUV, state police said.
Manzera's family said by phone Saturday morning that they were still grappling with the news of the 21-year-old's sudden death. A constant stream of friends and family had visited the home of Manzera's father since news spread of the fatal crash Friday morning, said Mike Rihani, Manzera's brother-in-law.
"He was definitely a focused person, always full of life and full of character," Rihani, 24, said Saturday. "When he walked in a room, he would brighten everyone's mood. He always had a smile on him, he lived life to fullest."
Manzera planned to graduate from DePaul University next spring, Rihani said. He hoped to travel Europe before returning to Chicago and seeking work in marketing.
A graduate of De La Salle Institute high school, Manzera played soccer and was an avid skateboarder, Rihani said. But his main passion was art, which had practiced since a young age.
"He was very creative," Rihani said. "He just loved living his life."
Rihani said Manzera and Cazares were on their way back to Manzera's Bridgeport home from a night out with friends when they experienced car trouble and pulled over to the shoulder of the Dan Ryan Expressway. Manzera called a friend shortly before the crash and said he thought Cazares' car had a flat tire, Rihani said.
Manzera's family had heard few details about the nature of the crash, Rihani said. Though Frugoli lived less than a half-mile away from Manzera's family in Bridgeport, the two did not know each other, Rihani said.
Manzera is survived by an older sister and his parents, Rihani said. Saturday, they were remembering the young man known as "Afro" with a favorite quote by which he lived his short life: "and at the end of your existence what accomplishments do you have to show for yourself ... stay focused."
Regardless of how well I knew AFROE his life and work was well RESPECTED and always will be. Once again my heart goes out to his family and friends! I will do a piece for him THIS MORNING and wish HIM NOTHING BUT THE BEST!
PHOR CMK
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