Friends' deaths catch up with man 28 years after the fact
For 28 years, Roger Walburg ran from the painful truth that his reckless act led to the deaths of three friends.
He confronted that reality Thursday in a DuPage County courtroom filled with the slain men's grieving relatives.
Walburg, 52, was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for reckless homicide and jumping bail, fleeing the state decades ago just four days before his trial.
In his first public statement, a tearful Walburg apologized to his victims' families and promised that their loss did not elude him despite his decision to run.
"I have changed my life," he said in a written statement his lawyer read. "I haven't touched any alcohol since and never will.
"I am truly sorry about my friends. If there was a way to change the past, I most certainly would. Please forgive me."
Early June 6, 1980, Walburg survived a horrific car crash involving a commuter train after he drove a southbound 1971 Chevy Impala around lowered gates at railroad tracks in Villa Park.
The eastbound train was traveling about 60 mph, on its way to Chicago. It dragged the Chevy 150 feet, shearing off its roof, and ejecting some occupants.
The three passengers - Guy Noel, 25, Villa Park; William Sukup, 27, Elmhurst; Bradley Smith, 26, of Elmhurst - were killed instantly.
Walburg fled on foot, but turned up later that morning at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital for a leg injury. He initially told police it was Noel who was driving.
The four friends were at a party that evening. Walburg's blood was never tested for alcohol consumption. Still, after authorities figured out the truth, prosecutors charged him with reckless homicide for ignoring the flashing lights and lowered gates.
But, just before his trial was to begin, Walburg fled in July 1982. The case grew cold but, last year, a dogged police detective who periodically checked for leads tracked Walburg down in Oklahoma City.
Walburg had been living under an alias. The fugitive was extradited back to Illinois in October.
He had to be sentenced under laws in effect at the time of the crash, which set a combined maximum four-year term for both crimes.
Under today's stricter laws, he would have faced up to 28 years in prison if prosecutors could have proved alcohol played a role in the fatal crash.
Walburg pleaded guilty last month. DuPage Circuit Judge Perry Thompson presided over Thursday's sentencing hearing.
"Mr. Walburg, you know for 28 years you were running from the truth," Thompson said. "You were running from the families you crushed and, of course, you were running from yourself and the fact you did kill your friends."
Brett Cummins, a senior assistant public defender, said Walburg led a law-abiding life in Oklahoma while living under an assumed identity. Cummins said Walburg's remorse was sincere.
Walburg, who has two grown children, worked as a mechanic most of his life. He plans to return to Oklahoma after finishing his sentence, of which he has to serve half before being paroled.
Six relatives of the slain men wrote victim-impact statements, most of which prosecutor Jeff Muntz read, detailing their lingering razor-sharp pain.
They chastised Walburg for trying to blame the crash on Noel and then fleeing.
The Noel family even let Walburg be a pallbearer. They didn't learn the truth until afterward.
"There are consequences for our actions, and it's time for Roger to pay for his," Christopher Noel said of his brother's death. "It's over. We can all finally move on now."
Added Clarence Smith, father of Bradley: "There are no winners here, only victims. One careless decision and many lives were changed."
The relatives also thanked the detective, Norm Hall, a former Villa Park officer who now works in the DuPage state's attorney's office, for bringing Walburg to justice.