Aurora Woman Convicted in Crash That Killed St. Charles Couple Requests Early Release From Prison

A 31-year-old Aurora woman who is serving a six-year prison sentence for causing a crash that killed a St. Charles couple and injured 12 motorcyclists is requesting an early release from prison, the Daily Herald reports.

Alia Bernard testified she smoke marijuana on the Thursday before a Saturday crash in May 2009 on Route 47 near Elburn, according to the Daily Herald. She pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated driving under the influence and was sentenced in February 2012.

Test results showed Bernard had marijuana in her system when the crash occurred, according to authorities.

Under state law, prosecutors are only required to prove the presence of illegal drugs in the offender’s system, and not impairment, and Bernard’s attorney highlighted in court last week a recent effort by the General Assembly to rewrite the law, the Daily Herald reports. Her attorney has also argued the methodology for testing Bernard’s blood was flawed.

>>>> Woman Serving Time for Crash That Killed St. Charles Couple Still Fighting Sentence

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.

A Kane County judge is expected to make a ruling on the request for an early release from prison for Bernard on March 9, according to the Daily Herald.

Read more on the Daily Herald.