Shannon D. Hill, 19, of the 0-99 block of Poplar Creek Drive, Elgin, on Thursday, May 22, 2014, agreed to a sentence of 11 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in exchange for a guilty plea to failure to report an accident involving death, a Class 1 felony, reckless homicide, a Class 3 felony, and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a park, a Class X felony.

An Elgin man has pleaded guilty for a fatal DUI crash, as well as to an unrelated charge for selling heroin to an undercover police officer.

Shannon D. Hill, 19, of the 0-99 block of Poplar Creek Drive, Elgin, on Thursday, May 22, 2014, agreed to a sentence of 11 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in exchange for a guilty plea to failure to report an accident involving death, a Class 1 felony, reckless homicide, a Class 3 felony, and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a park, a Class X felony.

Circuit Judge John A. Barsanti accepted the plea.

At about 12:45 a.m. Sept. 2, 2012, Hill was driving a 2007 Lincoln MKZ westbound on Plank Road west of Burlington in far western Kane County when the car crossed into the east lane and rolled over. Evidence showed the car was traveling at about 100 mph when it rolled over. Seventeen-year-old Lawrence Echols of Elgin, who was riding in the right rear seat, was killed. Two other passengers suffered injuries. Hill told the surviving passengers not to call 911 to report the crash before he fled on foot. Hill was found nine hours later at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin. Witnesses said Hill had consumed alcohol and smoked marijuana before the crash.

Hill was not charged while the crash was being investigated.

On Oct. 23, 2012, Hill sold 1.1 grams of heroin to an undercover Elgin police officer in exchange for a Sony Playstation 3 gaming console. The transaction took place within 1,000 feet of Trout Park, in the 500 block of Trout Park Boulevard, Elgin.

The sentence is six years for the failure to report charge and five years for the reckless homicide charge, to be served consecutively, and 10 years for the delivery of a controlled substance charge, to be served concurrent to the 11-year term.

According to Illinois law, Hill is eligible for day-for-day credit.

Hill receives credit for at least 357 days served in the Kane County jail.

“This is another sad case of a young person discovering after it is too late that there is great risk and often a great price to pay for impaired driving. We hope this sentence gives Lawrence Echols’ family a sense of peace and justice,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said.

“Thanks to Kane County Sheriff’s Det. Nate Moravec for his work in investigating this case, and to Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Mark D. Stajdohar, who prosecuted the case.”

SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office press release