Woman Admits to Driving Under Influence of Heroin in Fatal Crash

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL - A Wisconsin woman admitted to driving under the influence of heroin in a crash last May that killed a Woodstock woman and seriously injured her husband. Sheree Ann Shaw, 47, pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence of drugs causing death and aggravated driving under the influence of drugs causing great bodily harm during a hearing in McHenry County last week. Shaw now faces between 4 to 26 years in prison when she is sentenced on June 26.

Prosecutors said Shaw was driving recklessly while heading north on Richmond Road in McHenry on May 6, 2016 while she changed lanes several times. She lost control of her vehicle and swerved into an oncoming lane of traffic. Her 2002 Ford Taurus collided with a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Michael Thornton, the Northwest Herald reports. Michael's wife of 19 years, Amy Thornton,was riding as a passenger.

Amy, a longtime nurse at Centegra Medical Center in Woodstock, died nine days later at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. Michael suffered several fractures to his pelvic and femur but survived the crash, according to a news release from the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said Shaw failed field sobriety tests at the scene of the crash and tests revealed she was under the influence of heroin at the time of the collision.

Michael Thornton told the Northwest Herald he was happy Shaw pleaded guilty last week to the charges as it meant the case would soon be resolved. He also said he never plans to get on a motorcycle again.

“I don’t want to put my life in anyone else’s hands again,” he said.

Amy had two children, Zachary and Michael Thornton.

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