Seven years for driving while high on pot and Freon, killing pedestrian

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Joseph Brynda

Updated: December 7, 2011 9:08PM

A man was sentenced to seven years in prison for driving with his knees while texting, all while under the influence of marijuana and Freon, when he struck and killed a pedestrian in southwest suburban Tinley Park.

Joseph Brynda, 20, of Frankfort, pleaded guilty Wednesday to aggravated DUI in connection with the Nov. 9, 2009, crash, as well as an unrelated burglary in Oak Lawn in November 2010, Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokesman Andy Conklin said. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Court records show Brynda was texting while driving, and a witness told police he was “driving with his knees” when he struck and killed Phillip Rangel, 60, on 183rd Street in Tinley Park. Rangel was walking to the 80th Avenue Metra station to catch a train to Blue Island.

Brynda’s 2008 Saturn then hit a stoplight at 183rd Street and 80th Avenue, and collided with a 2002 Dodge stopped on 183rd.

Will County court records show that before the crash, Brynda had been cited eight times for driving offenses including speeding, disobeying traffic signals and failing to yield to emergency vehicles. He was also involved in at least one accident with injuries, according to the Illinois Secretary of State’s office.

The burglary charge stems from a November 2010 incident near a park district building in Oak Lawn. Brynda was free on $250,000 bond at the time but it was revoked.