Man In Critical Condition After Being Hit By Unlicensed Driver

CHICAGO (CBS)-- Skateboarder Reginald "Reggie" Destin was planning a party for a friend at a Wicker Park bar on Sunday.

But now that Destin is fighting for his life after being hit by an alleged drunk driver, the bash has turned into a fundraiser for him.

Cook County prosecutors say Luis P. Pena, 30, doesn't have a driver's license or insurance but got behind the wheel early Friday morning and struck Destin as he rode his skateboard in the 1700 block of North Milwaukee Avenue.

Police officers heard the crash and found Destin, 42, lying in the street in the bike lane after being thrown from his skateboard. Pena allegedly kept driving, but witnesses pointed out his car and officers were able to stop him as he turned west on North Avenue.

Pena smelled like alcohol and had bloodshot eyes but told police he "did not have that many beers," prosecutors said. He also allegedly refused a Breathalyzer. Tests later revealed he had a 0.188 blood-alcohol level — more than twice the .08 legal limit, prosecutors said.

This isn't the first time Pena was arrested for a DUI. He was convicted of aggravated DUI in 2007. Pena was ordered held in lieu of $400,000 bail Saturday for the latest charges of aggravated driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident with life threatening injuries. But in light of the latest DUI, Pena was also ordered held without bond for violating probation on another case.

Meanwhile Saturday, Destin remained intubated at Stroger Hospital in critical condition. He suffered multiple fractures, including a skull fracture from the accident, according to prosecutors.

When he was hit around 2 a.m. Friday, Destin was riding his skateboard for a couple of blocks so he could get to his parked car after leaving a bar. His friend was about 10 feet ahead of him, according to another friend, professional skateboarder Johnny Fonseca. Destin's companion saw Pena's car swerve into him once and almost hit him. And when he looked back a second time, Destin was hit "dead on," Fonseca said.

Destin is well known in the Chicago skating community and often frequents the skateboard shop Uprise, which is a block from the accident. He's had jobs working for popular skateboard companies and owned a skateboarding shop called Push near Chicago and State in the late 1990s, Fonseca said.

Skating is "definitely his passion," Fonseca said. "He's an advocate for it."

Fonseca said Destin is "very outgoing, very the man on the scene." He also loves soccer and began a Sunday soccer league with Fonseca: "We usually just go out there, play soccer no pressure," Fonseca said. "Everyone just brings their kids and we hang out."
Friends will gather at the Sunday night fundraiser at Rodan, where Destin organized DJ acts every Friday. The outing at 1530 N Milwaukee Ave was initially planned by Destin to celebrate a friend's new record, "but in light of what's happened we're making this all about Reggie," friends said in a Facebook post.

All proceeds will be donated to Destin's family.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)