A report from the Kane County Chronicle published this morning states that, according to previously unreleased police reports obtained pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, Katelyn E. Rougas, the woman whose vehicle fatally struck Batavia’s Tammy Berke on East State Street in September, told police that “she had taken prescribed medication and had fallen asleep before the crash.”
The revelation comes as the victim’s son, Sebastian Berke, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Rougas seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages.
On the evening of September 28, Berke was walking southbound in the center turn lane on State Street east of Sandholm Street across from the Dairy Queen. She was struck by a black 2018 Hyundai Kona driven by Rougas, who was traveling westbound on State Street.
Berke was transported to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva where she later died.
Rougas was not injured and was described as “fully cooperating with the ongoing police investigation.” She was issued a traffic citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
It is unclear from the Chronicle report whether the alleged admission related directly to the crash or to a general description of the medicine’s impact on Rougas.
Quoting the police report, the Chronicle cites the officer who interrogated Rougas at the scene.
“Rougas appeared to be emotionally distressed and as if she had just woken up. Rougas’ voice was trembling as she spoke and she was unable to project her voice while speaking with me. Rougas repeatedly expressed concern regarding the welfare of Berke.”
The Chronicle went on to report that the officer “did not observe any signs of impairment while speaking with Rougas.”
Rougas was ultimately charged with driving too fast for conditions.
