On Thursday, an Illinois driver who caused a 2021 accident that killed two Judson University students pleaded guilty to felony aggravated street racing.
The reckless homicide charges against Kahleel Steele, 24, of the 900 block of Ridge Road in DeKalb, were dropped as a result of his guilty plea.
Illinois Man Killed 2 Judson University Students
The fact that Steele has entered a plea of no contest means that there is no unanimity over his punishment. The prosecution and Steele’s attorney are currently in negotiations regarding the sentence. In the event that they are unable to achieve a consensus, the decision will be made by Kane County Judge John Barsanti.
Former Carpentersville resident Steele faces a possible sentence of between one and twelve years in prison. Not until April, when he will be sentenced, will he be obliged to appear in court.
On April 20, 2021, Steele and another defendant, Trevon Morris, were reportedly speeding northbound on State Street, per Assistant State’s Attorney Katrina Flannagan (Route 31).
In an area with a 45-mile-per-hour speed restriction, the vehicle driven by Morris collided with a Pontiac sedan carrying four Judson University students. The Pontiac had just begun a left turn into the campus when the collision occurred.
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Cannabis Influence
The incident caused the Pontiac to split in two, with the back portion flying over the guardrail and landing in a field.
Dallas Colburn, a resident of Plano, and Nathaniel Madison, a resident of Pennsylvania, were both ejected from the vehicle while seated in the rear seat.
In October, 23-year-old Morris pleaded guilty to the more severe allegation of driving under the influence of cannabis while causing death. Twelve years of incarceration were imposed on him in December. On the evening of the accident, Morris reportedly had three times the legal amount of THC in his blood.
Colburn and Madison, both 22 years old and architecture seniors at the time, planned to graduate from the university in May of the following year.
Manny L. Pittenturf, age 25, from Carpentersville, was the third driver to be charged with two traffic violations: misdemeanor aggravated speeding and driving without a valid license. At the time of the crash, he was following Morris and Steele in his automobile. His cases continue to be pursued.
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