Teen who crashed into fest crowd fined $300

A Roselle teen who plowed her car into a crowd gathered for Schaumburg's Septemberfest fireworks show last year was sentenced Monday to a $300 fine.

Several people who were injured in that crash were in the Rolling Meadows courtroom as Rebecca Moeller, 19, of 627 Glacier Court, pleaded guilty to a speeding charge.

"They would've preferred criminal charges, but the prosecution didn't feel they were warranted," said Jim Allegretti, an attorney for a spectator from Schaumburg who was injured in the crash.

Charges of improper lane usage and damage to village property were dropped, the latter because of a lack of intent, officials said.

Michelle Brand, 17, still walks with a cane after shattering her femur in the Sept. 2 crash. She and her parents were sitting along Plum Grove Road waiting for the fireworks display to begin when Moeller's car jumped the curb. All three were struck.

"I don't think (Moeller) realizes even now just how many lives she's affected," said Brand, who spent a month in the hospital and has racked medical expenses in excess of $200,000.

Allegretti said his 17-year-old client has needed six surgeries on her ankle and pelvis, with two more coming.

Allegretti said Moeller was behind the wheel of her boyfriend's father's Ford Mustang that Labor Day weekend when she drove off the roadway.

"Young ladies have been disfigured because some girl wants to drive fast," said Allegretti, who noted Moeller had three speeding citations before the incident. "She's caused a lot of pain and suffering that didn't have to happen but for her recklessness."

Neither Moeller nor her attorney, Timothy O'Donoghue, could be reached for comment after her brief court appearance.

Moeller accepts full responsibility, O'Donoghue told Cook County Circuit Court Judge Richard Kavitt.

It took Schaumburg police more than three months to charge Moeller, a delay authorities attributed to both the complicated nature of reconstructing the crash scene and the time it took for the crime lab to analyze Moeller's blood work. The results ultimately determined alcohol did not play a role in the crash.

Schaumburg police have said the cause of the crash was determined to be a combination of speed -- the Traffic Crash Reconstruction Team said Moeller was traveling at least 59 mph in a 45-mph zone -- and a quick lane change.

Attorneys said they intend to file a civil lawsuit in the next 30 days on behalf of the Brands and other victims.