Driver faces four additional counts

By Bill Schwingel

DeKalb Police added four counts of reckless homicide Thursday to the driver who collided with a train early Saturday morning, killing two passengers.

The driver of the car, John P. Denton, 22, 630 Annie Glidden Road, Apt. 202, apparently drove around the railroad crossing gates and was struck by a westbound train at about 2 a.m., Saturday.

“There are two ways to be reckless,” said DeKalb State’s Attorney Mike Coghlan. In this incident, two of the reckless homicide charges are for driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in the death of the two passengers, Coghlan said.

The two other charges of reckless homicide include driving around the railroad gates also resulting in the death of the two passengers, he said. Denton also faces the original charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Katrina M. Tabor, 20, DeKalb, was pronounced dead at the scene by DeKalb County Chief Deputy Coroner Earl Tischler. Jamie L. Tucker, 21, Sycamore, was pronounced dead after being transported by helicopter to St. Anthony Medical Center.

The accident is still under investigation by the DeKalb Police because evidence was sent to a private crime lab and the State Crime Lab in Rockford, Ill., said DeKalb Police Lt. Richard Moudy. Moudy declined to give any information pertaining to the evidence.

“It takes a lot of evidence to prove reckless homicide,” Coghlan said. If found guilty, Denton may face from two to five years in prison with a two year parole, up to a $10,000 fine, or a maximum of a 30 month probationary period, he said.

Denton is in fair condition after being flown from the accident to St. Anthony’s Medical Center by helicopter.