Elburn woman surrenders in reckless homicide case

An Elburn woman turned herself in Friday afternoon to face charges of reckless homicide in the March 2009 death of a Marengo man.

Linda Knotts, 45, of the 300 block of Dempsey Street, is being held on $500,000 bail, and is expected to appear in bond court Saturday morning, according to a statement from the Kane County State's Attorney's office.

Authorities contend Knotts was driving a Chevrolet S10 pickup truck on Route 47 near Merrill Road in Sugar Grove Township, swerved into oncoming traffic and collided head on with a van driven by 54-year-old William McKenzie of Marengo.

She was indicted earlier this week.

She is charged with reckless homicide, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and driving under the influence. The indictment states she had cocaine in her system and was in possession of less than 15 grams of it.

According to testimony before a coroner's jury last year, witnesses called police before the crash, complaining that Knotts had been driving erratically and "at a high rate of speed."

A deputy ticketed Knotts about 15 minutes before the crash for passing in a no-passing zone. McKenzie's family is suing the Kane County Sheriff's Department for not arresting her during the traffic stop on a charge of DUI.

She faces two to five years in prison if convicted of reckless homicide, and three to seven years in prison if convicted of possession with intent to deliver.