Wrong Way Driver Gets Prison For Killing Joliet Motorist

JOLIET, IL — A 34-year-old Joliet man is now serving an eight-year prison sentence after recently pleading guilty to charges of reckless homicide and failure to report an accident involving injury or death.

Demetrius Greene, formerly of the 700 block of Chase Avenue, was responsible for one of Joliet's most horrendous hit-and -run crashes in recent years. His sentence was ordered by Will County Judge Carmen Goodman. She also checked a box on the sentencing form that indicated Greene's crimes occurred while Greene was under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances and she recommended Greene be placed in a substance abuse program through the Illinois Department of Corrections, while he is living there for the next several years.

Around dinner time, on Jan. 10, 2018, Greene blew a red light at the busy intersection of Black Road and Larkin Avenue as he was driving the wrong way against traffic. Greene caused a six-vehicle pileup and the death of one of the motorists he struck, long-time Joliet Public School District 86 substitute teacher Martyn Flowers, 56.

The Joliet Police were forced to shut down the intersection of Black Road and Larkin Avenue for several hours as they investigated the hit and run crash.

About a week later, the Joliet Police Department took Greene into custody and he has remained locked away from the community, at the Will County Jail, ever since Jan. 16, 2018.

He remained in county detention until about three weeks ago, on June 7.

Now, Greene is adjusting to his new surroundings at the Illinois Department of Corrections penal system. He has been assigned to downstate's Centralia Correctional Center. His projected release date is listed as Jan. 16, 2026. He has a projected parole date of Jan. 14, 2022.

"Defendant was speeding the wrong way and ran a red light," documents filed by the Will County State's Attorney's Office show. "He crashed into the car being driven by Martyn Flowers. Defendant then left the scene of the accident and came to police six days later. Martyn Flowers passed away from the injuries."

Greene is no stranger to spending time in the Illinois DOC.

He previously served out a three-year prison term for aggravated domestic battery, and he has other convictions for multiple misdemeanors and traffic violations, the court documents show.