In October 2022, a 22-year-old DeKalb man who was high on THC and on his way to a St. Charles cannabis dispensary lost control of his car on Route 38 just west of Elburn, crashing into two vehicles going the other way and killing a four-year-old girl.
Today, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced that Judge Donald J. Tegeler has sentenced the man, Edgar Barrios, to 12 ½ years in prison.
On November 20, 2024, Barrios pleaded guilty to the offenses of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis Causing Death, a Class 2 felony, and Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis Causing Great Bodily Harm, a Class 4 felony.
According to prosecutors, on October 1, 2022, at 6:40pm, Barrios was driving a Chrysler 200 eastbound on Route 38 west of Francis Road on his way to a cannabis dispensary in St. Charles. He was driving at a speed of about 78 mph when he swerved and lost control of his vehicle. He struck a Jeep Compass in the westbound lane, causing it to go into a ditch and catch fire. A four-year-old female child, who was in a car seat, died as a result of the injuries that she sustained from the crash. Her mother, who was the driver of the Jeep Compass, also suffered serious injuries. Barrios then struck a second vehicle that was eastbound behind the Jeep Compass.
Blood and urine samples were collected from Barrios at a local hospital and laboratory testing showed a level of 6.6 nanograms per milliliter of Delta-9 THC in his blood.
“Edgar Barrios used bad judgment and made a selfish decision to get into a car and drive while he was under the influence of cannabis,” Assistant State’s Attorneys David Belshan said after the verdict. “He blatantly disregarded the law and the safety of others. That decision cost a four-year-old girl her life and caused serious injuries to her mother. The sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of his actions and hopefully will prevent others from making the decision to drive while under the influence of cannabis or other drugs.”
Barrios must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence and receives credit for 829 days served in the Kane County jail.
