Authorities: Street race triggered crash that killed Judson Students
Updated 5/29 to reflect that Kahleel L. Steelehas turned himself in to Elgin police.
Two men were racing on Route 31 moments before the April crash that killed a pair of Judson University students whose car was struck near the entrance to the Elgin campus, authorities said Thursday.
Trevon D. Morris, 21, of the 400 block of Stella Avenue in Elgin, and Kahleel L. Steele, 22, of the 0-100 block of Austin Avenue in Carpentersville, face reckless homicide and aggravated street racing charges, both felonies, Kane County authorities said.
A third person, 23-year-old Manny L. Pittenturf, 300 block of Tee Lane, Carpentersville, has been charged with misdemeanor aggravated speeding in connection with the crash. He was driving behind Morris and Steele when the crash occurred.
Kane County authorities filed charges in the case May 14. Pittenturf turned himself in to Elgin police May 19, and Morris did May 25. Police are looking for Steele.
Dallas Colburn, 22, of Plano and Nathanael Madison, 22, of Pennsylvania died in the April 20 crash. Two other students in their car were injured.
The crash happened at 9:15 p.m. at one of the entrances to the university. The 2004 Pontiac carrying the four Judson students, driven by a 23-year-old man from Michigan, was turning from southbound Route 31 onto Judson Drive when it was hit by the 2013 Hyundai driven by Morris, authorities said.
Morris and Steele - who was driving a 2011 Jeep - were traveling north on Route 31 north of Big Timber Road. Authorities said they were racing at the time of the crash.
The posted speed limit there is 45 mph, but they were doing more than 35 mph over the limit at the time, according to a news release from the Kane County state's attorney's office.
The force of the crash ejected Colburn and Madison, who died at the scene. The driver and another passenger in the Pontiac were injured.
The crash stunned the Judson community. All four students were studying architecture and design at the small, Christian liberal-arts school, and Colburn and Madison were due to graduate in May, according to school officials.
"Judson University is saddened to learn more news about the tragic event that took the lives of two students in April," Mary Dulabaum, Judson's marketing and communications director, said Thursday morning in an email to the Daily Herald. "At this time, our thoughts and prayers are for all the families impacted by this tragic event."
Besides the street racing and reckless homicide charges, Morris has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence of an intoxicating substance-causing death, and aggravated DUI-no license, both felonies. Authorities allege he had an illegal level of THC in his blood at the time of the crash.
Morris also faces misdemeanor charges of speeding and driving without a license-never issued. Bail was set at $100,000. If he is released on bail, he will be placed on electronic home monitoring.
At the time of the crash, he was free on a personal recognizance bond on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance.
Pittenturf was also charged with driving without a valid license. At the time of the crash, he was free on a personal recognizance bond on a felony charge of possessing a firearm with a defaced serial number.
Steele is also charged with misdemeanor speeding and misdemeanor possession of cannabis-more than 30 grams. He turned himself in to Elgin police on Thursday.