Carol Stream man pleads not guilty in fatal Itasca crash
A Carol Stream man whose girlfriend was killed when his truck crashed into a moving train over the July 4 weekend pleaded not guilty Monday to reckless homicide and aggravated drunken driving.
Jeffrey Fisher, 40, of the 700 block of Bluff Street, faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge.
Prosecutors said Fisher registered a blood-alcohol level of 0.183, more than twice the legal threshold, after the deadly crash at an Itasca rail crossing near Rohlwing and Irving Park Roads.
The crash happened just before 3 a.m. July 3 as Fisher’s Ford truck traveled south through activated crossing gates and slammed into the engine of a passing train, authorities said.
Fisher’s live-in girlfriend and passenger, Eva Meyers, 30, was airlifted to a Park Ridge hospital with severe head trauma and other injuries. She died the following day, authorities said. Fisher was treated for jaw injuries, cuts and broken bones, according to police.
Assistant State’s Attorney David Bayer told Judge John Kinsella in court Monday that Fisher will face a mandatory prison term of three to 14 years if convicted of aggravated DUI. Bayer said Fisher would be eligible for probation only if he proved “extraordinary circumstances” warranted it, according to the law.
Fisher, who appears to have no prior criminal history in DuPage, remained in DuPage County jail on $500,000 bail. He returns to court Aug. 26.