Woman gets 3 years for DUI crash that killed Elgin man

An Elgin woman who was drunk when she caused a fatal 2023 crash in Elgin has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Evelyn Compean, 24, of the 200 block of Raymond Street, pleaded guilty in July to aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol — causing death. On Monday, she was sentenced by Kane County Judge John Barsanti.

The crash happened shortly after 5 a.m. March 25, 2023, on State Street (Route 31) near Davis Road/River Road in Elgin.

Hector Sosa-Valdiva, 54, of Elgin, was turning west onto River. Compean was driving south on State at 94 mph in a 45 mph zone.

An Elgin police officer testified that Compean did not brake until .02 seconds before impact.

She had a blood alcohol content of .159. According to an Elgin police report, she told police she had gone to a bar in Carpentersville after work, had two alcoholic drinks and blacked out.

Sosa-Valdiva’s son, Giovanni Sosa, spoke during the sentencing hearing, which took place over several days.

“This (the crash) was not fate. This was a decision,” Sosa said.

When the family was told Sosa-Valdiva had died, “We cried like children lost in the dark, because effectively we were,” Sosa said.

Compean had also been charged with reckless homicide. That was dropped as part of her plea deal.

Compean will have to serve at least 85% of her sentence before being eligible for parole. She received credit for the 104 days she spent in the Kane County jail before she posted bond. Compean must turn herself in to the Kane County jail by Oct. 21.