Leesburg Man Sentenced In Illinois Fatal Crash
February 17, 2017 at 9:01 p.m.
By Staff Report-
Francisco Espinal-Quiroz, 53, was sentenced in Will?County Circuit Court Thursday afternoon.
Espinal–Quiroz pleaded guilty to five counts of reckless homicide and one count of falsifying a log book in November.
Judge David Carlson sentenced him to 10 years on each count and two years on the count of falsifying his log book. All sentences will be served concurrently.
At 2:15 p.m. July 21, 2014, Espinal-Quiroz was traveling 15 mph over the speed limit when his red Freightliner slammed into three vehicles backed up in the northbound lanes on I-155 near Channahon, Ill. Traffic was stalled by construction work on the Des Plaines River bridge in Channahon Township. Espinal-Quiroz had the cruise control set at 65 mph, The Herald-News reported.
Killed were Kimberly Britton, 43, and Piper Britton, 11, both of Urbana; and Timothy Osburn, 64, of Channahon, Ill.
The Brittons died immediately and Osburn died 16 days later in a Chicago hospital.
Two other women, Ulrike Blopleh, 48, Channahon, Ill., and Vicky Palacios, 54, Coal City, Ill., also were killed in the crash.
Espinal–Quiroz will receive 2-1/2 years credit for time served and will be eligible for parole after serving half his sentence.
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Francisco Espinal-Quiroz, 53, was sentenced in Will?County Circuit Court Thursday afternoon.
Espinal–Quiroz pleaded guilty to five counts of reckless homicide and one count of falsifying a log book in November.
Judge David Carlson sentenced him to 10 years on each count and two years on the count of falsifying his log book. All sentences will be served concurrently.
At 2:15 p.m. July 21, 2014, Espinal-Quiroz was traveling 15 mph over the speed limit when his red Freightliner slammed into three vehicles backed up in the northbound lanes on I-155 near Channahon, Ill. Traffic was stalled by construction work on the Des Plaines River bridge in Channahon Township. Espinal-Quiroz had the cruise control set at 65 mph, The Herald-News reported.
Killed were Kimberly Britton, 43, and Piper Britton, 11, both of Urbana; and Timothy Osburn, 64, of Channahon, Ill.
The Brittons died immediately and Osburn died 16 days later in a Chicago hospital.
Two other women, Ulrike Blopleh, 48, Channahon, Ill., and Vicky Palacios, 54, Coal City, Ill., also were killed in the crash.
Espinal–Quiroz will receive 2-1/2 years credit for time served and will be eligible for parole after serving half his sentence.
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