Lake Villa Township woman denies charges in fatal crash

A Lake Villa Township woman charged with having drugs in her system when she caused a crash that killed a motorcyclist pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Rebecca Wells, 33, could face up to 14 years in prison if convicted of aggravated driving under the influence and causing a death.

Assistant State's Attorney James Newman said Wells, of the 25000 block of West Arcade Drive, was driving west on Route 59 about 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 27. Wells attempted to turn left onto Wilson Road, Newman said, but turned in front of a motorcycle driven by Justin McBride, 29, of Lake Villa.

McBride was killed at the scene and his 9-year-old daughter, who was a passenger on the motorcycle, suffered a serious head injury.

Laboratory tests later revealed Wells had cocaine, marijuana and opiates in her system at the time of the crash, Newman said.

Wells is held in the Lake County jail on $250,000 bail.

Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak scheduled a trial of the case for Nov. 28 and ordered Wells to appear in court Oct. 25.