Charges of DUI and reckless driving are expected to be dropped against an Oregon man after a Rockford woman was killed following a boating accident last summer on the Rock River in Ogle County.
Lack of evidence is the main reasons behind the decision.
Reports indicate that 47-year old Marc Mongan of Oregon was driving an 18-foot motorboat on the Rock River near Oregon on June 24th of last year. The boat collided with a pontoon boat being driven by 53-year old David Daily of Leaf River. The crash took place a short time after 8:30 that night.
A passenger on the pontoon boat, 31-year old Megan Wells of Rockford, was thrown into the water. She died from blunt force trauma to her chest.
Mongan, who is the owner of Oregon Healthcare Pharmacy Services Incorporated, pled not guilty to operating a watercraft under the influence of alcohol and reckless operation of a watercraft. The accident was investigated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Ogle County State's Attorney Eric Morrow said in a published report that he does not have enough evidence to prove Mongan was drunk at the time of the crash. He had declined to submit to a field sobriety test following the incident.
Last December, an Ogle County grand jury failed to indict Mongan on the felony charges of operating a watercraft under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving.
A wrongful death civil suit has been filed by Wells' husband against Mongan. He is seeking damage in excess of $50,000 for his 3 children and himself.
