7 Years for Driver in Crash that Killed St. Charles Couple

An Aurora woman was sentenced Wednesday for the 2009 crash in which a St. Charles couple was killed.

, 27. of the 1500 block of West Galena Boulevard, Aurora, received a sentenced of seven years in Illinois prison from Allen M. Anderson.

Bernard pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated DUI on Dec. 9—one count for each person killed in the crash. Test results showed Bernard had marijuana in her system when the crash occurred, according to authorities.

On Wednesday, Bernard received a seven-year sentence for each count, terms she will serve concurrently.

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Wade Thomas, 44, and the passenger on his motorcycle, his wife, Denise Thomas, 45, both from St. Charles, were killed in the May 23, 2009, crash.

According to authorities, a 1999 Toyota Solara driven by Bernard rear-ended another vehicle waiting on Route 47 near the intersection of Smith Road in rural Elburn. This started a chain-reaction involving two other vehicles that were stopped ahead of the vehicle Bernard's Solara struck, pushing one of the vehicles into the path of oncoming motorcycles traveling on Smith Road. Thomas' 2000 Harley-Davidson Softtail struck one of the vehicles.

Bernard is required at least 85 percent of the sentence, according to Illinois law.

Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Jody Gleason prosecuted the case.