Geneva man, 19, charged with reckless homicide in fatal crash
Kane County authorities charged a 19-year-old Geneva man Saturday with reckless homicide after a fiery crash that killed a passenger in the SUV he was driving.
Raphael Peruzza, of the 2000 block of Eldorado Drive, also faces charges of aggravated driving under the influence in an accident causing death, driving in the wrong lane, and driving too fast for conditions.
His passenger, Nicholas Hanson, 19, of Geneva, was killed when Peruzza's Jeep Grand Cherokee left the southbound lane of Burr Road and flipped over at 2:15 a.m. Friday, Kane County sheriff's police said.
The Jeep traveled across the road and collided with a tree line just south of Hawkins Lane in unincorporated area of St. Charles Township.
Police said Peruzza exited the burning Jeep but Hanson remained inside. Hanson's body was found by first-responders after they extinguished the fire.
Peruzza was taken to Delnor Hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening and later transferred to the Kane County Adult Justice Center Saturday. His bond was set at $2 million.
Police, including the county's Accident Reconstruction Team, are still investigating factors in the crash, such as speed, Sheriff's Lt. Pat Gengler said.