Wednesday, May 27, 2015

FEMALE DRIVER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH RECKLESS HOMICIDE AND AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL IN CONNECTION WITH A JAN. 10 CRASH THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF 2 YOUNG WOMEN




MAY 26, 2015

MONROE COUNTY, ILLINOIS

A 20-year-old Red Bud woman is facing felony charges in connection with a crash earlier this year that killed two Randolph County women. 

Crystal Steinheimer has been charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol in connection with a Jan. 10 crash that resulted in the deaths of Abigail Liefer, 19, of Ruma, and Hannah Marie Porter, 20, of Red Bud.

Monroe County State’s Attorney Kris Reitz filed the charges against Steinheimer on Friday. He declined comment. 

Porter’s aunt Kathy Frederick of Red Bud said the family will not provide a statement regarding the charges. 

Liefer’s sister Alison Schubert of Florida also declined to comment on behalf of their family. 

About 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, Steinheimer was northbound on Illinois 159 near Sunset Lane in a 2008 Chevy Aveo when she lost control of the car and crossed the center line, colliding head-on with a southbound 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by Liefer.

Liefer and one of her passengers, Porter, were killed in the collision.

Steinheimer and the other passenger in Liefer’s car, Grace E. Richards, 21, of Red Bud, were treated at hospitals for injuries. 

Illinois State Police investigated the fatal crash. Trooper Calvin Dye Jr. said the ISP accident reconstruction team was called in to investigate the crash.

“All of our accident reconstruction reports are done in a timely manner,” he said. 

However, it’s a “very-time consuming” process, Dye explained, as hundreds of measurements must be taken to determine how far the vehicles involved traveled upon impact, among other factors in the crash. 

Steinheimer faces six to 28 years in prison on both felony counts. She is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. June 4.

Steinheimer is not in custody at Monroe County Jail, according to officials with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.