Elburn Man Gets 7 Years For DUI Crash That Led to Amputation of Victim’s Leg
An Elburn man has been sentenced to prison for a 2014 DUI crash that severed the victim’s lower leg.
Quinn Gabnay, 46, of the 42W block of Hughes Road, Elburn, was sentenced Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, by Circuit Judge Donald M. Tegeler, Jr., to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Gabnay was convicted June 3, 2016, by Judge Tegeler, of four counts of aggravated DUI, two Class 2 felonies because the offense was his third, and two Class 4 felonies because the victim suffered great bodily harm. Gabnay waived his right to a jury trial.
Kane County prosecutors presented evidence that at about 5 p.m. May 17, 2014, Gabnay was driving his Dodge Ram pick-up truck in rural Kane County south of Elburn. He was headed north on Green Road just south of Smith Road when he crossed the center line and collided with the victim and his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
The victim, who was on southbound Green Road, had moved near the shoulder to try to avoid the collision when he saw the oncoming truck cross into his lane. The collision severed the victim’s left leg below the knee. The victim directed the motorcycle to the field adjacent to the road, called 911, applied a tourniquet to his injured leg and waited for paramedics to arrive. His left leg was later amputated, and he now wears a prosthetic left leg.
Gabnay’s blood-alcohol concentration, taken shortly after the crash was .192, nearly 21⁄2 times Illinois’ limit of .08.
According to Illinois law, Gabnay must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence. He was given credit for five days served in the Kane County jail. He had been free on $2,500 bond.
The case was prosecuted by Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney’s Bill Engerman and Bridget Sabbia.
“This crash highlights the dangers of driving while intoxicated. In fact, the victim very easily could have been killed. I hope this sentence is a clear message to everyone that the consequences of drunken driving are quite severe,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said.
SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office news release. To follow news releases directly from the SAO, visit the State’s Attorney’s website and Facebook page.