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Negotiations continue in fatal Port Barrington crash

Negotiations are continuing between prosecutors and a defense attorney for an Island Lake man accused of being impaired when he ran over and killed an pedestrian lying in the roadway in unincorporated Lake County.

Kevin Gillespie, 22, of the 900 block of Wembley Drive, faces a maximum of 29 years in prison if found guilty of killing Tracy Meger-Berry, 46, of Port Barrington, last September. He is held in Lake County jail on $250,000 bail.

Defense attorney Jeremy Harter said in court Monday that negotiations are under way to try to resolve the case before trial. He would not elaborate on the negotiations outside of the courtroom.

Authorities said the Lake County Sheriff's Office was called to Lamphere Road near Port Barrington at 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 22, and found Meger-Berry in the roadway after being hit by a car.

An autopsy showed Meger-Berry, who lived about a mile from the crash site, had a blood alcohol content of .276 percent, authorities said. Crash investigators believe she was lying in the road when she was run over by a vehicle.

Authorities said police traced a piece of a bumper recovered at the scene to Gillespie's vehicle, which was found a few hours later.

During questioning, Gillespie admitted to hitting Meger-Berry, then leaving the scene, authorities said. He admitted consuming alcohol and marijuana before the crash, authorities said.

Gillespie faces two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, and one count of failure to report an accident resulting in death.

The aggravated DUI charge could put Gillespie behind bars for up to 14 years, authorities said, while the failure to report an accident resulting in death carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence.

The trial is scheduled for June 2, though both sides indicated that date could change. Both sides are due back in court May 19.

Island Lake man pleads not guilty in fatal crash

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