Romanucci & Blandin Retained to Represent Family of Woman Killed by Drunk Driver in Fiery Uber Crash

Attorneys from Romanucci & Blandin, LLC have been retained to represent the family of Jamie Poulos, a 23-year-old Berwyn woman killed early Sunday after a drunk driver struck her Uber from behind causing it to catch fire. The drunk driver who caused the crash, Rami Matariyeh, fled the scene and was later taken into custody. While Matariyeh declined a Breathalyzer test at the hospital, routine blood tests revealed his blood alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit for driving.

Matariyeh is currently out on bail after posting the necessary $10,000 of his $100,000 bond. Cook County Judge Sophia Atcherson ordered he be released from the county jail on electronic monitors and forbade him from driving or drinking alcohol while awaiting trial.

“The Poulos family is beyond devastated by the tragic and unnecessary loss of their daughter Jamie,” said Antonio M. Romanucci, attorney for the Poulos family, and founding partner at Romanucci & Blandin. “The actions of Rami Matariyeh are incredibly disturbing and we are equally as troubled by the horrible message it sends to the family and to the public that he was released on such a low bond. We plan on conducting a thorough investigation into this fatal crash and holding all responsible parties accountable for their wrongdoing.”

The Cook County state’s attorney’s office has charged Matariyeh with reckless homicide, failure to report an accident causing death, aggravated driving under the influence, failure to report an accident causing injury and other violations. In cooperation with the Illinois State Police, Will County sheriff’s office and the Cook County state’s attorney’s office, Romanucci & Blandin has begun an independent investigation into the fatal crash and will pursue all appropriate legal actions on behalf of the Poulos family.