Sanner Sentenced in 2021 Fatal Crest Hill Traffic Crash

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced Dakea Sanner, 29, of Crest Hill, has been sentenced to six years in prison for Aggravated Driving Under the Influence (a Class 2 felony), causing a fatal crash that resulted in the death of Martin Velemir in 2021. Sanner pled guilty recently and was sentenced by Circuit Judge Carmen Goodman.

On October 24, 2021, at approximately 2:07 a.m., officers were dispatched to Weber Road and Patrick Drive in Crest Hill for a traffic crash with possible injuries. The two vehicles involved were defendant Sanner’s Chevrolet Tahoe and the victim’s Honda Accord. According to a witness at the scene, Sanner was driving the Chevrolet, which did not have its headlights on, southbound in the left lane, while Mr. Velemir was driving northbound in the left lane of travel. The evidence, including debris in the roadway and the damage to the vehicles, demonstrated Sanner’s Chevy crossed the double yellow lines, entered the northbound lane, and struck the victim’s Honda head-on. A crash reconstruction report revealed Sanner’s vehicle did not brake before impact, but instead increased in speed directly before the crash.

The victim suffered major head trauma and was transported to Ascension St. Joseph Hospital in Joliet, where he succumbed to his injuries. Defendant Sanner was transported to Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital and submitted to a DUI hospital blood draw, which indicated a blood alcohol content of .18. It is illegal to drive in Illinois with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or greater. The cause of the fatal crash was determined to be Sanner’s improper lane usage.

“Sanner made the horribly reckless decision to get behind the wheel and drive while highly intoxicated despite the untenable risk this posed to everyone else on the road,” Glasgow said. “Sadly, Sanner’s abject disregard for the law and the sanctity of human life resulted in Martin’s tragic death. This horrific loss has set in motion a lifetime of suffering for his family.”

The six-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections will be served at 85 percent, and Sanner also is subject to a period of two years mandatory supervised release. Sanner will receive 669 days credit for time served.

Glasgow thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Charlene Recio, Victim Witness Services Director Nichole Pasteris, Victim Witness Advocate Jessica Gil, IT Specialist Bob Valiska, and officers from the Crest Hill Police Department and Illinois State Police for their hard work and dedication in this matter.