East Peoria man gets 180 days plus probation after fatal DUI crash

A judge recently found “extraordinary circumstances” in the case of an East Peoria man who pled guilty to aggravated driving under the influence of marijuana after a fatal accident that that killed a Sparland motorcycle rider last year. He later pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated DUI in exchange for a prison sentence limited to no more than 12 years. He was sentenced recently to 180 days in jail, drug treatment, and four years of probation.

At sentencing, the judge cited a medical diagnosis for hypoglycemia as justification for the decision, reasoning that the medical condition could have been responsible for the driver losing control of his vehicle prior to the crash that killed the 63-year-old motorcyclist. However, the judge cautioned others accused of driving under the influence of marijuana not to consider the ruling an invitation to bogus defenses based on spurious medical conditions.

The man will now be required to complete 12 months in a drug treatment program and will then serve 180 days in jail. He will also need to finish 200 hours of community service, be a part of a DUI impact panel, serve four years of probation and pay thousands of dollars in fees and fines. During the trial, the man testified that directly before the accident he began to feel dizzy, light-headed and disoriented. The man’s lawyer successfully argued that the man was suffering from low blood sugar at the time of the crash and apparently blacked out before striking the motorcycle.