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Urbana man sentenced to 30 years in fatal hit-and-run that killed two women

He must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for release. Photo: Metro Services


URBANA, Ill. (Chambana Today) — A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after admitting responsibility for a deadly hit-and-run crash that killed two young women in Urbana earlier this year.

Julio Cucul-Bol, a Guatemalan national, accepted a plea deal in Champaign County Court last week, pleading guilty to multiple charges stemming from the January 19 crash that killed 21-year-old Chloe Polzin of Deerfield and 20-year-old Katherine Abraham of Glenview.

Prosecutors said Cucul-Bol was driving under the influence when he struck the women and fled the scene. He was arrested several days later by the U.S. Marshals Service under a false identity — “Juan Jahaziel Saenz-Suarez” — but was later identified through federal investigation as Cucul-Bol.

In May, a federal grand jury indicted him on several counts of possessing and using fake identification documents, including a false Permanent Resident Card, Social Security card, and passport.

Under the plea agreement, Cucul-Bol pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI involving death, leaving the scene of a fatal crash, aggravated DUI causing bodily harm, and leaving the scene of a personal injury crash. Two counts of reckless homicide were dismissed.

Cucul-Bol was sentenced to a total of 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with credit for 267 days already served. He must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for release.

During Friday’s hearing, a victim impact statement was read aloud in court, reflecting the grief of the victims’ families. After sentencing, Cucul-Bol was remanded to the custody of the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office before being transferred to state prison.

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