St. Charles man charged with DUI in DeKalb teen's death
A St. Charles man has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after a four-vehicle crash Tuesday night killed a DeKalb teenager and seriously injured an Elgin resident, according to the DeKalb County sheriff's office.
John A. Yanni, 25, of the 100 block of South 18th Street, was driving a pickup truck at 7:18 p.m. on Route 38 east of Peace Road in DeKalb County when he collided with a vehicle driven by an 18-year-old from DeKalb, according to a sheriff's report.
The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene, and his passenger Evan Cortez, 23, of Elgin was taken to OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford with serious injuries, DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott said.
Cortez's driver's license has an address in the 1000 block of Spinnaker Street, but authorities believe he might attend a local college and no longer live in Elgin, Scott said. He was still listed in serious condition Wednesday morning, a hospital representative said.
Yanni, who was taken to Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb with injuries that were not life-threatening, faces charges of DUI and improper lane change, the sheriff's office said.
Drivers of the other two vehicles - men from DeKalb and Cortland - were not injured, authorities said.
Yanni's bail amount and his next court date were not immediately available. If convicted of felony fatal DUI, Yanni faces three to 14 years in prison.
According to Kane County court records, Yanni was cited for speeding 15 to 20 mph over the limit in April 2011 in Sugar Grove, and in June 2009 in St. Charles. He was cited for no insurance in July 2009 and disorderly conduct in September 2010, both in St. Charles.
• Daily Herald staff writers Elena Ferrarin and Harry Hitzeman contributed to this story.