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Gustavo P. Gomez, 48, of the 7200 block of Weldern Lane, Darien, faces up to five years in prison following his conviction Thursday for reckless homicide in a traffic crash that killed two people in January 2008 near Huntley.
A Kane County jury convicted Gomez on two felony counts of reckless homicide in the deaths of Sergio Espinosa, 52, and Rosalina Rodriguez, 58, both of Elgin, according to a release issued by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Espinosa was the driver, and Rodriguez the passenger, of a 2004 Hyundai Elantra raveling westbound on Oak Creek Parkway at Route 47 at about 2:30 p.m. Jan. 24, 2008, when the semi-truck driven by Gomez ran a red light and struck the Elantra, according to court documents.
Gomez was driving the truck and empty trailer northbound on Route 47 when the crash occurred.
Espinosa was pronounced dead at the scene, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead an hour later at Provena St. Joseph Hospital.
Investigators estimated the truck Gomez was driving was traveling about 60 m.p.h. just prior to the crash. The posted speed limit there is 55 m.p.h., prosecutors said.
Gomez had been free on $2,500 bond. Bond was revoked upon conviction and Gomez was taken into custody, according to prosecutors.
Gomez faces a sentence of probation or between two and five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Gomez’s next court date is 9 a.m. Oct. 27 in Courtroom 319 in front of Circuit Judge Timothy Q. Sheldon for post-trial motions and sentencing.
Gustavo P. Gomez, 48, of the 7200 block of Weldern Lane, Darien, faces up to five years in prison following his conviction Thursday for reckless homicide in a traffic crash that killed two people in January 2008 near Huntley.
A Kane County jury convicted Gomez on two felony counts of reckless homicide in the deaths of Sergio Espinosa, 52, and Rosalina Rodriguez, 58, both of Elgin, according to a release issued by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Espinosa was the driver, and Rodriguez the passenger, of a 2004 Hyundai Elantra raveling westbound on Oak Creek Parkway at Route 47 at about 2:30 p.m. Jan. 24, 2008, when the semi-truck driven by Gomez ran a red light and struck the Elantra, according to court documents.
Gomez was driving the truck and empty trailer northbound on Route 47 when the crash occurred.
Espinosa was pronounced dead at the scene, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead an hour later at Provena St. Joseph Hospital.
Investigators estimated the truck Gomez was driving was traveling about 60 m.p.h. just prior to the crash. The posted speed limit there is 55 m.p.h., prosecutors said.
Gomez had been free on $2,500 bond. Bond was revoked upon conviction and Gomez was taken into custody, according to prosecutors.
Gomez faces a sentence of probation or between two and five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Gomez’s next court date is 9 a.m. Oct. 27 in Courtroom 319 in front of Circuit Judge Timothy Q. Sheldon for post-trial motions and sentencing.
