Illinois State Police Arrests Aurora Man for Kidnapping and First-Degree Murder After Crash on Dan Ryan Expressway
August 3, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 2026
CHICAGO – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 1 Special Agents arrested 29-year-old Juan Ruiz Huerta of Aurora, IL, for three counts of First-Degree Murder (Class M Felony), Aggravated Battery – Deadly Weapon Not a Firearm (Class 3 Felony), Kidnapping (Class 2 Felony), and Unlawful Restraint (Class 4 Felony), after a fatal crash on I-94.
On July 31, 2026, around 5:50 p.m., Ruiz Huerta was driving northbound on I-94 with a passenger, 28-year-old Victory A. Swanigan of Chicago, when a verbal altercation occurred between the two. Ruiz Huerta turned the vehicle around and began driving at a high rate of speed in the wrong direction, heading south into the northbound express lanes. Near 53rd Street, Ruiz Huerta’s vehicle struck another car, resulting in fatal injury to Swanigan. Both Ruiz Huerta and the other driver were both transported to area hospitals with injuries.
After a thorough and extensive investigation, ISP presented the case to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the above-mentioned charges were filed. Ruiz Huerta was transported to the Riverdale Police Department and is being held pending his first court appearance. There is no further information available at this time.
Juan Ruiz Huerta (M/29)
The charges are not evidence against the defendant, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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