Hassan Woods Pleads Guilty to Aggravated DUI
The Decatur man entered his plea following a fatal collision that occurred earlier this year in Macon County.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Financial Crime
Hassan Woods pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated DUI with no valid insurance on October 15, 2026. This plea follows a vehicle collision in Decatur that resulted in the death of 12-year-old Kavari Drisdell.
Why it matters
The case concludes after the state attorney determined that evidence did not support intoxication as the proximate cause of the death. Consequently, prosecutors dismissed a prior charge of aggravated DUI causing death.
Hassan Woods, 46, entered a plea to a Class 4 felony with a blood alcohol concentration of .176. The court has scheduled the sentencing hearing for January 7, 2027.
The players
Hassan Woods
He is the 46-year-old defendant who pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI with no valid insurance.
Kavari Drisdell
The 12-year-old victim died following a vehicle collision in Decatur.
The details
The plea agreement involved amending the charge from aggravated DUI with no driver's license while dismissing two other counts of aggravated DUI. The incident occurred on June 15, 2026, at the intersection of North Van Dyke and West King Streets.
Timeline
December 2025: A charge of aggravated DUI causing death was dismissed.
June 15, 2026: Kavari Drisdell died following a vehicle collision.
October 15, 2026: Hassan Woods pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI.
January 7, 2027: Sentencing hearing for Hassan Woods.
Legal Context
The case follows the state of Illinois' legal standards regarding Class 4 felony convictions for aggravated DUI. This conviction mirrors patterns seen in previous Macon County cases involving repeat offenders.
The resolution of this case brings legal closure to the fatal incident that occurred at the intersection of North Van Dyke and West King Streets. Residents in Decatur may see continued monitoring of traffic safety protocols following the court's proceedings.
The takeaway
This case highlights the complexities of proving proximate cause in fatal DUI investigations. Legal experts often cite such plea agreements as a common pathway when evidence for specific death-related charges is deemed insufficient for trial.
What happens next
The sentencing hearing for Hassan Woods is scheduled for January 7, 2027, in Macon County court.
Further reading
For more information on legal proceedings in the region, visit the Decatur Financial Crime section.
