Man Gets 11 Years For DUI Crash That Killed Downers Grove Mom

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — A man convicted of killing a Downers Grove woman in a fatal DUI crash in 2016 has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. In May, Robert Gorss, 49, of N. Nagle Ave. pleaded guilty to one felony count of aggravated driving under the influence causing death in connection with the crash, which claimed the life of Dawn Nickeas, a 48-year-old mother of two.

Police say "several controlled substances" were found in Gorss's urine after the crash.

The fatal DUI crash took place on September 7, 2016, just after 1 p.m. Gorss, who was driving a box truck near the intersection of North and Main in Lombard, hit the car Nickeas was driving. Nickeas was seriously injured in the crash and died of her injuries on November 3, 2016.

Gorss has been held in DuPage County Jail on $150,000 bond since November 23, 2016.

DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said of the sentence, "While there is nothing that can be done to bring Dawn back to her family and friends, perhaps today’s sentencing of the man responsible for her death will help them gain some measure of closure in this horrible chapter in their lives."

Gorss has to serve 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Image via DuPage County Sheriff's Office