Man Charged in DUI Crash That Killed Girl, 9, Who Was Headed Home from Church Function

A 25-year-old Aurora man now faces several felony charges after he allegedly drove drunk and caused a crash that killed a 9-year-old girl over the weekend, police said Monday. The girl was in a minivan with her mother and two friends headed home from a church function when the collision occurred Friday night in Aurora.

Anthony S. Potochney, of the 900 block of North Avenue in Aurora, is charged with four counts of aggravated DUI, two counts of DUI and one count of leaving the scene of a crash in connection with the crash that claimed the life of Katie Jonak, of the 2900 block of Arbor Lane in Aurora, according to a news release from Aurora Police.

Potochney, the driver in a 2003 Cadillac Deville, was headed south on Broadway Street near Pierce Avenue when the car drifted into the northbound lanes of traffic and collided with a 2009 Toyota Sienna minivan at about 9:10 p.m. on Friday, according to the news release.

The driver of the minivan, Jonak’s 40-year-old mother, Tonia Jonak, tried to avoid the crash by making a sharp left turn. The Cadillac still ended up hitting the minivan on its passenger side where Katie was sitting, according to police. Jonak then collided with a building on the west side of Broadway.

Potochney ran from the crash scene but was taken into custody without incident near the High Street Bridge that crosses the Burlington Northern Railroad tracks a short time later, police said.

Witnesses assisted the Aurora Police with descriptions of the man, which aided in his apprehension. He displayed signs of intoxication when taken into custody, police said.

Aurora Fire Department Paramedics rushed Katie, along with her two friends, ages 10 and 12, who were also in the minivan, to Presence Mercy Medical Center. Katie was pronounced dead at 9:44 p.m.

The other two children, who are both from Batavia, suffered non-life threatening injuries, according to the news release.

Katie’s mother refused medical treatment. Potochney was taken to Rush Copley Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.

Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of filing upgraded charges against Potochney.

Katie, her mom, and the two other girls were apparently on their way home from a church function when the crash occurred.