Crime & Safety
Aurora Woman Pleads Guilty to Charges from Crash that Killed St. Charles Couple
Alia N. Bernard, 27, is scheduled to appear in court this February for sentencing.
An Aurora woman has pleaded guilty to aggravated drunken driving charges stemming from a 2009 crash that killed a St. Charles couple.
, 27, of the 1500 block of West Galena Blvd., is awaiting possible sentencing. A accepted the guilty plea Friday on two counts of aggravated DUI, a Class 2 felony. She remains free on $5,000 bond.
Bernard could receive probation, if her attorney can demonstrate extraordinary circumstances, or 6 to 28 years in state prison.
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Prosecutors argued that Bernard had cannabis in her system at the time of the May 23, 2009. Last month, a Kane County judge upheld a state law that upgrades DUI charges when drivers have any amount of marijuana in their system.
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A 1999 Toyota Solara, driven by Bernard, struck a vehicle stopped near the intersection of Route 47 and Smith Road, south of Elburn, according to prosecutors. This crash caused a chain reaction that pushed the front car into the intersection. Wade Thomas, 44, and his passenger, Denise Thomas, 45, both of St. Charles, were killed when their motorcylce struck the vehicle.
Bernard's sentencing is set for Feb. 8.
Edited from a news release provided by the Kane County State's Attorney's Office.
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