Elgin man sentenced to nearly 9 years' prison in fatal crash
An Elgin man was sentenced to nearly nine years in prison this week after pleading guilty to killing a Carpentersville man while driving intoxicated and fleeing police while on parole.
Steven T. Luellen, 35, of the 300 block of Jefferson Street, pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI Thursday.
Luellen could have received 14 years in prison; instead he got eight years and nine months.
Judge John Barsanti accepted the plea in the crash that killed Miguel Austin-Tellez, 35.
According to prosecutors, Luellen had alcohol, cocaine, THC and benzodiazepine in his system when he caused a crash May 27, 2014.
Police were chasing Luellen east on Jefferson Street with their lights and sirens on when he blew a stop sign at North Liberty Street and slammed into the minivan being driven by Austin-Tellez, who was killed.
Luellen's passenger was seriously injured and Luellen, who was wanted on a parole violation, suffered two broken legs.
Police broke off the chase about four blocks before Luellen crashed; he reached speeds up to 67 mph in a residential area.
"Miguel Austin-Tellez was killed because Mr. Luellen, drunk and high on a cocktail of drugs and alcohol, chose to flout the law," Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon said. "Taking drugs and then driving creates a danger that too often ends tragically."
Luellen must serve 85 percent of the sentence. He also gets credit for nearly 14 months served while the case was pending.