The rider of a motorcycle who was killed when his vehicle was struck by a Chevy van in Batavia Sunday evening has been identified.
According to the Kane County Coroner’s Office, the deceased man is 61-year-old Jeffrey Smith of West Chicago.
The preliminary cause of death was multiple injuries due to a motor vehicle collision. Toxicology samples were collected and sent to a forensic lab for analysis.
On Sunday, at 5:12 PM, officers were dispatched to a report of a traffic crash involving a motorcycle and a Chevrolet van in the 400 block of South River Street. The initial investigation indicates that the motorcycle was southbound in the 400 block of South River Street when it was struck from behind by a Chevrolet van that was also southbound. Smith, the rider of the motorcycle was ejected, and the motorcycle remained pinned underneath the van. The driver of the van subsequently pulled over to the side of the road.
Smith was critically injured and was transported from the scene to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
After investigation at the scene, the other involved driver, a 38-year-old North Aurora man, was subsequently placed into custody for DUI. Investigators conferred with the Kane County States’ Attorney’s Office, and criminal charges against the defendant were authorized:
- Aggravated DUI Causing Death of Another, 625 ILCS 501(d)(1)(F), Class 2 Felony
- Aggravated DUI Causing Death of Another, 625 ILCS 501(d)(1)(F), Class 2 Felony
- Reckless Homicide, 720 ILCS 5/9-3, Class 3 Felony
- Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, 625 ILCS 501(a)(2), Class A Misdemeanor
- Driving Under the Influence BAC .08 or more, 625 ILCS 501(a)(1), Class A Misdemeanor
- Associated Petty Traffic Offenses
