Driver Sentenced in DUI Crash That Severed Motorcyclist’s Leg

KANE COUNTY, IL - A 46-year-old Elburn man who drove drunk and caused a 2014 crash with a motorcycle that later forced that motorcyclist to have his leg amputated is headed to prison.

Quinn Gabnay, of the 42W block of Hughes Road in Elburn, was convicted in June of four counts of aggravated DUI in connection with the May 17, 2014 crash. On Friday, Kane County Judge Donald Tegeler sentenced him to seven years in prison, according to a Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office press release.

The crash happened at about 5 p.m. while Gabnay was driving his Dodge Ram pick-up truck north on Green Road just south of Smith Road in rural Kane County -- just south of Elburn. Gabnay crossed the centerline and a motorcyclist, who was on southbound Green Road, tried to avoid the collision by moving closer to the shoulder of the road when he saw the oncoming truck cross into his lane.

The victim’s left leg was severed below the knee during the crash. When emergency personnel arrived at the scene, they found the victim in a nearby field where he had applied a tourniquet to his injured leg. His left leg was later amputated and the victim now wears a prosthetic left leg, according to the news release.

Gabnay’s blood-alcohol concentration, taken shortly after the crash, was .192 or nearly 2.5 times over Illinois’ legal limit of .08.

According to Illinois law, Gabnay must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence. He was given credit for five days served in the Kane County jail. He had been free on $2,500 bond.

“This crash highlights the dangers of driving while intoxicated. In fact, the victim very easily could have been killed. I hope this sentence is a clear message to everyone that the consequences of drunken driving are quite severe,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said.

Photo via the Kane County State's Attorney's Office