Man charged with DUI in fatal Chicago Heights crash that killed woman, 20

A man is accused of driving drunk in a fatal Saturday morning crash in south suburban Chicago Heights.

Officers responded about 3:45 a.m. to the crash between a 2003 Toyota Camry and a 2006 Ford Focus at 16th Place and Chicago Road, according to Chicago Heights police.

The driver of the Ford, 20-year-old Mariyah K. Howard of Beecher, was pronounced dead at the scene, police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said. An autopsy Monday found she died of multiple injuries in the crash and her death was ruled an accident.

The driver of the Toyota, 24-year-old Sai Pavuluri of Chicago Heights, was taken to St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields with injuries, police said. He was later transferred to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Pavuluri was subsequently charged with aggravated DUI resulting in death, police said. He was denied bail Monday at his initial court appearance in Markham and was scheduled to return to court April 9.