After being involved in a minor hit-and-run accident in Geneva, the driver of a car stolen in Wheaton fled on Route 38 at speeds in excess of 100 mph and struck another vehicle head-on, triggering a four-car crash that killed her and another driver Saturday night.
Authorities have not determined whether alcohol played a role in the accident. Police said an incident that transpired in the 1900 block of Illinois Street in Wheaton before the accident is still under investigation.
Jennifer Liston, 30, of Madison, Wis., and Zachary Bingham, 18, of Maple Park, were both killed in the accident at 8:45 p.m. Saturday near 42W761 Route 38, Campton Hills Police Chief Dan Hoffman said in a release. Liston was pronounced dead at the scene by the Elburn & Countryside Fire Department. Bingham was transported to Delnor Hospital and later flown to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Campton Hills police said Erin Pazin, 19, of Elburn, and Nadia Kull, 48, of Sugar Grove, were transported to Delnor by Elburn emergency personnel and treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Pazin was a passenger in Bingham’s vehicle and Kull was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Kevin Kull, also of Sugar Grove. Kull and the other driver — Ryan Anderson of Sycamore — were not reported injured.
Police said Liston was driving a 2003 Nissan Altima that earlier was reported stolen out of Wheaton. Hoffman said Liston was driving on a suspended driver’s license.
Police said Liston was involved in a minor hit-and-run accident in Geneva, shortly before the fatal accident. A Kane County sheriff’s deputy saw Liston driving west on Route 38 at Bricher Road and attempted to stop her, but she fled west on Route 38 at a high rate of speed. According to the release, the deputy initiated a pursuit but ended it shortly afterward when Liston fled at a high rate of speed.
Police said witnesses reported the vehicle driven by Liston was traveling recklessly, passing numerous vehicles on Route 38 at speeds of more than 100 mph.
According to the release, Liston struck Bingham’s eastbound vehicle head on in the eastbound lane. Liston’s vehicle then continued west and rear-ended Kull's vehicle, which was pushed into the eastbound lane and struck by an eastbound vehicle driven by Anderson.
The accident is being investigated by the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team.
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There are many, many people here grieving. There are people impacted by this tragedy that did not "choose" to play a deadly game and do not deserve this outcome. Your post is hurtful and not necessary in any way. For the families of all involved, I send my prayers and love. I am sorry for your losses and the nightmare you are living. May God bring you comfort and strength as you try to heal.
I reckon the reason the questions being asked about police is because someone has to pay for the dead fools mistakes. Why not blame the police to get money. The criminal that stole a car and was driving 100mph and was probably intoxicated is dead. Can't get any money out of her.....
Yesterday I watched dear friends bury their only child. There is no amount of money that could ever replace the loss of a child. Are you a parent? Can you put yourself in the shoes of Mr. and Mrs Bingham? Would you be searching for money to console you? If so, then I have further lost my faith in humanity and our future. The questions are asked to try and make sense of this horrific and tragic accident. Families and friends are trying to make sense of a nightmare that sadly we cannot comprehend. I continue to send my prayers and love for all those impacted by this accident. Life is short. We learned that all too well this past week. Instead of making assumptions and critizing people that you do not know, why not send your prayers and support?
I am a parent and if that happened to one of my two sons or my daughter I would be devastated. But I would have closure for the fact that there is only one person to blame for the incident, and she is dead. We live in a free society and with freedom comes risk. What we do know from the papers is that the dead offender had a criminal record, stole a car, crashed in Geneva, fled from the police, and was driving like a maniac. We still don't know if she was under the influence of alcohol or drugs but I would bet a months pay on that. My original question to patty was if her daughter saw police lights over the hill, what hill is she talking about because the next hill east of the crash is a great distance from the accident happened.
Not sure why people feel compelled to state their speculations as fact. This was a sad, sad situation all the way around.