People v. Harner , 2021 IL App (5th) 210075-U ( 2021 )

NOTICE
2021 IL App (5th) 210075-UNOTICE
Decision filed 12/07/21. The
This order was filed under
text of this decision may be NO. 5-21-0075 Supreme Court Rule 23 and is
changed or corrected prior to
not precedent except in the
the filing of a Petition for
IN THE limited circumstances allowed
Rehearing or the disposition of
under Rule 23(e)(1).
the same.
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
FIFTH DISTRICT
________________________________________________________________________
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the
) Circuit Court of
Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Johnson County.
)
v. ) No. 18-CF-71
)
CYLE W. HARNER, ) Honorable
) Todd D. Lambert,
Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, presiding.
________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE CATES delivered the judgment of the court.
Justices Moore and Vaughan concurred in the judgment.
ORDER
¶1 Held: The State presented sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt
that the defendant was driving his vehicle at the time of the accident, and
that he was guilty of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol
resulting in the death of one passenger and permanent injuries to another
passenger.
¶2 Following a bench trial, the defendant, Cyle W. Harner, was found guilty of reckless
homicide, a Class 3 felony (720 ILCS 5/9-3(a) (West 2018)), aggravated driving under the
influence resulting in death, a Class 2 felony (625 ILCS 5/11-501(d)(1)(F) (West 2018)),
and aggravated driving under the influence resulting in great bodily harm and permanent
disability, a Class 4 felony (625 ILCS 5/11-501(d)(1)(C) (West 2018)). Prior to sentencing,
1
the trial court vacated the guilty verdict as to reckless homicide under the one act, one
crime rule. The defendant was sentenced to three years in prison on the Class 2 felony and
two years in prison on the Class 4 felony, 1 and the sentences were to run concurrently. The
court also imposed a $1500 fine. On appeal, the defendant contends that the judgment
should be reversed, and the convictions and sentences set aside, because the State failed to
prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.
We affirm.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 On March 22, 2018, at approximately 2 a.m., the defendant’s 2008 Ford F-350 truck
was involved in a single-vehicle accident on Old Route 146 Loop, near Honeysuckle Lane,
in Johnson County, Illinois. The truck left the roadway and struck a line of trees. Troy
Newman, Tyler Inman, and the defendant were all ejected from the vehicle. Troy Newman
was transported by ambulance to the Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion,
Illinois, where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death was closed chest and
abdominal injuries secondary to a motor vehicle crash with ejection. Tyler Inman was also
transported to a hospital in Marion, and then airlifted to St. Louis University Hospital. He
sustained serious injuries requiring several surgeries, and some permanent impairment. The
defendant was airlifted to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana. He also sustained
serious injuries requiring an extended hospital stay. The Illinois State Police Traffic Crash
Scene Reconstruction Unit investigated the crash.
1
The trial court subsequently found that the defendant was eligible for a possible placement in the
impact incarceration program (730 ILCS 5/5-8-1.1 (West 2020)).
2
¶5 On December 26, 2018, the defendant was charged with reckless homicide (count
I), aggravated driving under the influence resulting result in the death of Troy Newman
(count II), and aggravated driving under the influence resulting in the serious and
permanent injury to Tyler Inman (count III). The defendant waived his right to a jury trial.
The bench trial began on November 16, 2020. Determining who was driving the vehicle at
the time of the crash was the primary factual issue in dispute. A summary of the evidence
follows.
¶6 A. The Crash
¶7 On the evening of Wednesday, March 21, 2018, Tyler Inman, Troy Newman, 2 and
the defendant were at Big Boys Bar and Grill (Big Boys) in Vienna, Illinois. Big Boys,
along with a few neighboring taverns, hosted a Wednesday night pool league. Tyler played
with his team at Big Boys. Troy played at a neighboring tavern and met up with Tyler at
Big Boys later that evening. Tyler and Troy were close friends. Troy planned to drive Tyler
home that evening.
¶8 Darlene Harner, her daughter Diana, and Breeanna Adams (Bree) were working at
Big Boys that night. It was the final night of competition for the pool league and there was
a full turnout. Bree tended bar that night. She testified that Tyler was drinking beer and
“Vegas bombs.” The defendant was drinking beer, but he may have had some Vegas bombs
toward the end of the night. Bree explained that a “Vegas bomb” is made by mixing
2
During the trial, some witnesses referred to Troy Newman and Tyler Inman by their first names, and other
witnesses referred to them by their last names. For clarity, we will refer to Troy Newman and Tyler Inman by their
first names in this order.
3
Jägermeister with an energy drink. Troy was drinking soda that evening. Darlene Harner
testified that Troy stated that he would drive Tyler and the defendant home that night.
Darlene noted that Troy did not consume alcohol and often acted as Tyler’s designated
driver.
¶9 Darlene testified that Big Boys closed at 2 a.m. on March 22, 2018. A few minutes
before closing time, Darlene went into the kitchen to turn off the lights and the fans. Troy,
Tyler, and the defendant were still seated at the bar. While Darlene was in the kitchen, she
heard a truck start up and a “revving” sound. Then, she heard the truck go “like a bat out
of hell.” Darlene stepped outside and saw Tyler’s truck in the parking lot. When Darlene
went back inside, she told her daughter that “the boys” would be back soon because they
left cigarettes, pool cues, coats, and a cell phone on the bar. A few minutes later, Darlene
noticed a police car traveling westbound at a high rate of speed. She then saw another
police car, with lights flashing, and an ambulance, both heading westbound.
¶ 10 Shortly after 2 a.m. on March 22, 2018, Fred Hudson and his wife were awakened
by a loud noise. Hudson’s home was on the north side of the Old Route 146 Loop, near
Honeysuckle Lane. Fred Hudson testified that he heard a roaring sound followed by a
screeching sound and a thump. He dressed and drove down the driveway. The headlights
of his car reflected on a truck that had apparently crashed. Hudson exited his car and heard
someone “hollering for help.” He called 9-1-1. While waiting for the police, Hudson
noticed a motor, still steaming, lying in the roadway. He then saw Tyler. Tyler appeared to
be in a lot of pain. When Hudson approached, Tyler asked whether someone was coming
to help. Tyler also asked, “Who the f*** was driving?” Hudson then observed Troy on the
4
ground about five feet down and to the right of Tyler. Tyler and Troy were both on the
passenger side of the cab. When Hudson walked around to the driver’s side of the cab, he
observed the defendant lying up against a tree. The bed of the truck was 40 to 50 feet west
of the cab.
¶ 11 Johnson County Sheriff’s Deputies Scott Sparks and Dustin Sheffer responded to
the accident scene. Two ambulance crews arrived a few minutes later. Deputy Sparks
noticed a large amount of debris strewn around the roadway. He observed an engine, with
steam coming from it, located in the eastbound lane of Old Route 146, and the cab of the
truck near the tree line. Sparks approached the defendant and asked his name. The
defendant identified himself as Cyle Harner. Sparks recognized that the defendant had
worked as a deputy in the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, and that the defendant’s
father, Charles Harner, was the Sheriff of Johnson County. Sparks asked the dispatcher to
notify Sheriff Harner and the Illinois State Police of the crash. Pursuant to the request of
the Illinois State Police, Sparks drew a diagram of the accident scene, indicating the
locations of the ejected occupants and some parts of the vehicle.
¶ 12 Deputy Dustin Sheffer checked on Troy and Tyler. Both were found on the right
side of the cab. Troy was nonresponsive. Tyler appeared to be in pain and did not say
anything to Sheffer about the accident. Scheffer recalled that Tyler’s cell phone rang.
Sheffer picked up the phone and answered it. The caller identified herself as Jessica Wright.
She was Tyler’s girlfriend. Sheffer directed Jessica to the location of the accident and
returned the phone to Tyler.
5
¶ 13 Jessica Wright testified that Tyler called her from the scene. Tyler told Jessica that
he had been in a wreck at “the four-way” in Vienna, but he did not say who was driving.
Jessica drove to “the four-way,” but did not find Tyler there. She called Tyler’s cell phone
and spoke with a police officer who directed her to the scene. When Jessica arrived at the
scene, she did not speak with Tyler because he had already been placed in an ambulance.
Later that morning, Jessica saw Tyler in the emergency room at St. Louis University
Hospital. Tyler was in a lot of pain. He did not tell her who was driving the truck when it
crashed.
¶ 14 Sheriff Charles Harner 3 arrived at the scene of the accident and went over to check
on the defendant. Harner testified that the defendant was agitated and in pain. The
defendant was complaining that no one was helping him, and he was in a “cussing fit.”
Harner told the defendant that he had to help himself and calm down. In response, the
defendant said, “I’m sorry.” Harner interpreted the defendant’s statement to be an apology
for acting out. Harner did not think the defendant meant that he was sorry for causing the
crash.
¶ 15 Harner immediately turned the investigation over to the Illinois State Police. He saw
the defendant at the hospital the next day. The defendant had several broken ribs, a spinal
fracture, a broken arm and elbow, and torn ligaments in his knee. The defendant was placed
in an induced coma for 21 days. Harner stated that the defendant had no recollection of the
crash when he came out of the coma.
3
At the time of the trial, Charles Harner was no longer the sheriff of Johnson County.
6
¶ 16 Harner testified that the defendant had been employed as a patrol deputy from 2012
to 2015, and a canine officer from 2015 to 2018. In January 2018, the defendant began
working for a private security contractor in Virginia, and he received advanced training in
canine bomb detection. He had been scheduled to report to the United States Embassy in
Bagdad, Iraq, to provide security services, but his injuries prevented him from doing so.
Harner recalled that the defendant spent about $7000 on the motor of the truck before he
left for Virginia. The truck had blown an injector and was losing oil, so it needed to be
repaired. Harner stated that the defendant was proud of his truck. When asked whether the
defendant would want “people at the bars and stuff like that” to drive the truck, Harner
replied, “As far as I know, no.”
¶ 17 B. The Crash Investigation
¶ 18 Chad Brown, an Illinois State Police officer, was the case agent for the investigation.
Brown had been employed with the Illinois State Police for 24 years. As a case agent,
Brown collected all reports and interviews from the investigation. He also conducted
interviews and followed up on investigative leads.
¶ 19 Brown testified that a search warrant was issued to obtain the defendant’s hospital
records, including the results of a blood draw. The records indicated that the defendant’s
blood was drawn at 5:13 a.m. on March 22, 2018. The defendant’s blood alcohol serum
was 220 milligrams per deciliter. The court took judicial notice that the serum level
converted to a blood alcohol level of 0.186. Investigators also obtained Tyler’s hospital
records. The records indicate that Tyler’s blood was drawn at 6:11 a.m. on March 22, 2018.
7
Tyler’s blood serum was 95. This converted to a blood alcohol level slightly over the legal
limit of 0.08.
¶ 20 Brown stated that two officers interviewed Tyler while he was in the surgical
recovery unit at St. Louis University Hospital. The interview occurred on March 22, 2018,
about 10 hours after the accident, and it was videotaped. The prosecutor then asked Brown
whether Tyler had identified the driver of the truck during that interview. The defense
objected on hearsay grounds, and the objection was sustained. Brown testified that he
interviewed Tyler on May 14, 2018, and that interview was also videotaped. Brown also
interviewed the defendant at the Vienna Police Department about one month after the
accident. During that interview, the defendant stated that he had no memory of the crash.
¶ 21 During cross-examination, Brown testified that he obtained a surveillance video
taken inside Big Boys on the night of the crash. When Brown stated that he could not recall
if he had viewed the video, defense counsel played the video to see if it would refresh
Brown’s recollection. In particular, Brown was asked to review the frames where Troy,
Tyler, and the defendant were leaving the bar. Defendant’s counsel asked whether it
appeared that “one person is handing something to someone else?” Brown replied that it
looked like “he did something with his right hand.” When asked whether it appeared that
“the defendant was handing somebody something with his right hand,” Brown replied,
“Could have been.” Brown was also shown a still photo made from the video. Brown was
asked whether it appeared the defendant was handing something to “the person that’s
wearing the hat with the sunglasses on the brim.” Brown said that the photo was not clear
enough to be able to say for sure what they were doing. On redirect, Brown was shown the
8
surveillance video again. When asked whether he could tell what the defendant was doing,
Brown replied, “I don’t know if [the defendant] is tapping him on the chest or what.”
¶ 22 Defense counsel also asked several questions about Brown’s interview with Tyler.
Brown testified that Tyler did not remember leaving the bar. Tyler could not recall how he
got into the vehicle, but he did say that he got in on the passenger side. Tyler did not
remember the defendant starting the truck. Tyler had no memory of anything else until
seconds before impact. Brown recalled that Tyler described how he put his hands up to
brace for impact. Tyler stated that as he braced himself, he looked across and saw the
defendant driving. Brown testified that he questioned Tyler about which way the truck was
sliding, but did not recall Tyler’s response. At that point, defense counsel played the video
recording of Brown’s interview with Tyler. Defense counsel also presented Brown with an
exhibit containing a transcript of the question and answer. After reviewing these exhibits,
Brown testified that Tyler thought the defendant was in the front of the slide and that the
driver’s side was toward the road.
¶ 23 Tyler testified that he went to Big Boys after work at 4 p.m. on March 21, 2018. He
was scheduled to play in the Wednesday night pool league. Tyler admitted that he drank
seven or eight beers and two or three Vegas bombs over the course of the evening. Tyler
testified that Troy was going to drive him home. Tyler recalled that the defendant had beer
and Vegas bombs. Tyler said that the defendant talked about his truck. The defendant
indicated that he put a high-performance kit in his truck, but he did not talk about racing it.
¶ 24 Tyler testified that he remembered going to the parking lot with Troy and the
defendant at closing time, but he could not recall why they all went out there. Tyler stated
9
that he was 100% sure that the defendant was driving. Tyler remembered that he was in
the front passenger seat and that Troy was in the back seat. Tyler also remembered that the
defendant “went wide,” hit loose gravel, and lost control of the truck. When the truck
started to slide, Tyler raised his right arm toward the handle near the passenger’s window
and braced his legs for impact. The truck went sideways and hit the trees. Tyler
acknowledged that he was intoxicated that evening.
¶ 25 Tyler testified that he was in a surgical recovery unit when he was first interviewed
by police officers. Tyler vaguely remembered the interview and was not able to relate much
about the crash at that time. Tyler stated that he was interviewed by Officer Chad Brown a
few weeks after he was discharged from the hospital. During the interview, he told Brown
that the defendant was driving. Tyler testified that he clearly remembered looking across
to the driver’s side and seeing the defendant driving.
¶ 26 Tyler stated that he sustained severe injuries to his right arm and had a reconstructed
right elbow. He also had a hole in his lung, broken ribs, and severe injuries to his left leg.
Tyler testified that he had over 15 surgeries in the 2½ years since the crash. He did not
have full motion in his right arm and had difficulty walking due to the leg injuries.
¶ 27 During cross-examination, Tyler testified that he did not recall seeing the defendant
hand his car key to Troy before they left Big Boys. Defense counsel showed Tyler a still
photo made from the surveillance video, and asked whether it appeared that the defendant
was handing something to Troy. Tyler stated that he did not see any keys, and that, if
anything, it looked like the defendant was giving Troy a “knuckle bump.” Tyler agreed that
10
the defendant’s hand appeared to be closed, and it “could be possible” that the defendant
was handing his key to Troy.
¶ 28 Tyler testified that he did not recall anything about the first interview with the
police. He had no recollection of speaking with anyone, including his mother, before he
was interviewed by the police. Defense counsel then played the videotape of the first
interview with the police. The video did not refresh Tyler’s recollection of the interview.
Tyler agreed that the video showed that he told the officers that he got into the truck on the
passenger side and that the defendant was driving the vehicle. Tyler was also asked about
a deposition he had given in a personal injury suit that he filed against the defendant and
Big Boys. Tyler acknowledged that during the deposition he testified that the defendant
got in the driver’s seat, that he got into the front passenger seat, and that Troy got into the
back seat. Tyler explained that while he did not have a specific memory of getting into the
truck, he did remember where everyone was seated. Tyler testified that he did not
remember asking Fred Hudson, “Who the F was driving,” at the accident scene.
¶ 29 Illinois State Trooper Matthew Deschamps was dispatched to the scene between 6
a.m. and 7 a.m. on the morning of March 22, 2018. On that date, Deschamps was assigned
to the crime scene unit. Deschamps testified that when he arrived, he observed debris on
the north and south sides of the Old Route 146 Loop. The debris field was over 150 feet in
length. Deschamps observed scrapings and scratches on the trees in close proximity to the
vehicle parts. Deschamps examined the cab. He observed that the front passenger door was
in an open position, and the back window was completely broken. The driver’s and
11
passenger’s air bags had deployed and were deflated. The seat belts were in a retracted and
locked position. Deschamps took dozens of photographs to document his observations.
¶ 30 Deschamps also collected several items of physical evidence from the scene. He
removed the front passenger and driver air bags, and the front seat covers from the cab of
the vehicle. He swabbed the key in the ignition, the steering wheel, and the shifter for DNA.
He did not fingerprint the key in the ignition or the driver’s door handle. Deschamps
photographed a pair of red sunglasses in front of the driver’s seat sticking out of the front
windshield glass. He stated that the sunglasses could be an important piece of evidence if
there was proof that the sunglasses originated from the driver’s area. Deschamps took
swabs of red blood-like substances found in an area west of the cab and another area near
the rear passenger area. He collected two cowboy boots and the defendant’s identification
card found near the defendant. He also collected the review mirror that had been found
near the defendant, and he recovered a partial print from the mirror.
¶ 31 The State stipulated that the only items submitted to the Illinois State Police
Forensic Lab for analysis were the passenger’s air bag, the driver’s air bag, and the buccal
swabs taken from Troy, Tyler, and the defendant. Eric Corey performed the analysis of that
evidence. Corey testified that he examined the passenger side air bag for blood and found
none. He swabbed the middle of the passenger side air bag to collect any skin cells or other
cells that might be present. Corey compared the DNA from the buccal swabs with the DNA
from the material on the passenger air bag. Corey testified to a reasonable degree of
scientific certainty that Tyler Inman’s DNA was on the passenger side air bag. Corey stated
that the match indicated that Tyler contacted the passenger side air bag. Corey did not find
12
the defendant’s DNA or Troy’s DNA on the passenger air bag. Corey also tested the
driver’s side air bag. He found a mixture of DNA profiles, but the results were inconclusive
as to who contributed to those profiles. During cross-examination, Corey acknowledged
that he swabbed only the middle of the passenger air bag.
¶ 32 C. The State’s Accident Reconstruction Testimony
¶ 33 Sergeant Brad Brachear testified that he was a member the Illinois State Police
Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit. He began working as a crash reconstruction officer in
2015. Brachear testified that he had been the lead reconstructionist on approximately 175
cases, and had been “on scene” for over 200 cases. Of those 175 cases where he acted as
lead reconstructionist, 30 involved single-vehicle crashes with vehicle rotation. Brachear
prepared an accident reconstruction report for this incident, and it was admitted into
evidence.
¶ 34 In his report, Brachear noted the weather and road conditions at the time of the
collision. The temperature was 31 degrees, the roadway was dry, and the winds were calm.
The road was asphalt and “traffic polished.” The east and westbound lanes of Old Route
146 were separated by two solid yellow lines, and the outer edge of each lane was marked
by a fog line. This was a rural area, and the speed limit was 55 miles per hour.
¶ 35 Brachear testified that he arrived at the scene about three hours after the crash. After
receiving a briefing, Brachear inspected the scene, noting the tire marks in the roadway,
the furrows and tire marks in the grass southwest of the roadway, and damage to a line of
trees south of the roadway. Brachear was informed that the defendant was found east of
the truck’s cab, along the tree line. The defendant was between the area where the truck
13
struck the trees and where the cab came to rest. Brachear observed a small pool of blood
in that area, along with the defendant’s identification card. The truck’s rearview mirror was
just east of the identification card. He observed a small pool of blood, west of the cab, in
the area where Tyler came to rest. Troy was found just south of Tyler. Brachear also
inspected the cab of the vehicle. He found that the seatbelts were retracted and locked, and
that the front air bags had deployed. The steering wheel, accelerator, and brake pedals had
been damaged. He noted that the headlight switch was in the “on” position, and that the
center console was extended up, creating a third seat in the front.
¶ 36 Brachear testified that he used a “Leica Total Station” to map the crash scene. An
“Unmanned Aerial System” was deployed to take aerial photographs of the scene and
debris field. In all, 172 photographs were taken. Brachear then described the crash as he
had reconstructed it. The defendant’s vehicle was traveling west on Old U.S. Route 146
Loop at Honeysuckle Lane. The driver failed to negotiate a slight left-handed curve in the
road, causing the tires on the right side of the truck to leave the roadway to the right. The
driver attempted to return the vehicle to the road, but he oversteered, causing “a critical
speed yaw.” The vehicle began to rotate counterclockwise. It traveled across both lanes of
traffic and left the roadway to the south. Brachear testified that the vehicle’s speed was
approximately 87 miles per hour. He used the measurements of the tire marks, the slope,
grade, and condition of the roadway, and the drag factor to calculate speed.
¶ 37 Brachear testified that the vehicle continued to rotate counterclockwise through the
grass and into a tree line south of the roadway. The cab had rotated just beyond 90 degrees,
and was perpendicular to the tree line, when it struck the first tree. The vehicle hit the next
14
two trees in rapid succession. The vehicle struck the second tree just in front of the right
wheel, and the right wheel hit the third tree. The cab separated from the chassis and became
airborne. At that point, it was difficult to determine how many times the cab rotated before
it came to rest. When the cab came to rest, it faced the tree line and was perpendicular to
the road. The engine came to rest in the eastbound lane of the roadway. The bed and frame
remained intact and rested along the tree line, west of the cab.
¶ 38 Brachear testified that the primary collision occurred when the vehicle struck the
first tree. That impact could have caused the air bags to deploy. The front passenger door
was compromised when the truck struck the trees, and all three occupants were ejected
through that door. Brachear stated that the location of the rearview mirror was a significant
piece of information in assessing who was driving the vehicle. He explained that when the
truck struck the tree and went airborne, all three occupants traveled forward and to the right
inside the cab. He opined, based upon the dynamics of the crash, that the driver was the
only occupant that likely would have come into contact with the rearview mirror. Brachear
testified that the rearview mirror would not have come off without some force acting upon
it. Brachear noted that the rearview mirror was found in the tree line, southeast of the cab,
near where the defendant was located after the crash. Brachear testified that the injuries to
Tyler’s right arm and shoulder were consistent with him striking the passenger door, and
having the weight of the other occupants pushing against him as they slid to the right.
Brachear stated that the location of the final resting place of the occupants, the location of
the rearview mirror in relation to the defendant’s final resting position, and the DNA results
15
on the passenger side air bag all correlated with Tyler’s statement that the defendant was
driving the truck at the time of the collision.
¶ 39 Based upon his analysis of the physical evidence, Brachear opined to a reasonable
degree of scientific certainty that the defendant was driving the Ford F-360 truck at the
time of the accident. Brachear further opined that Tyler was in the front passenger seat, and
that Troy was in the front center seat. Brachear also testified to a reasonable degree of
certainty that the primary causes of the crash were driving too fast for conditions and
driving under the influence of alcohol.
¶ 40 D. Defendant’s Reconstruction Expert and Character Witnesses
¶ 41 The defendant called Bruce Enz as his reconstruction expert. Enz testified that
during his 45-year career, he reconstructed almost 8000 crashes, of which 1500 were
single-vehicle crashes. Enz reviewed the photos, measurements, and reports from the
Illinois State Police. He visited the scene to take additional measurements on April 16,
2020. Enz noted that the vehicle was not available for inspection because it had been
scrapped a couple of months after the accident. He prepared a reconstruction report that
was admitted into evidence.
¶ 42 Enz testified that the Ford F-350 was westbound on Old Route 146. As it passed
Honeysuckle Lane, the tires on the right side of the truck left the roadway and went onto
the grass. As the driver corrected, the vehicle went into a yaw counterclockwise. The
weight of the vehicle shifted to the right and it continued to rotate. The vehicle crossed the
roadway and continued down the shoulder slope to a line of trees. The front of the vehicle
was pointed in a southerly direction when the front bumper and hood contacted the first
16
tree. Enz described this as “somewhat of a sideswipe impact,” but it was sufficient to
deploy the air bags. Because the occupants were not wearing their seat belts, their arms and
torsos would have been flailing forward. Enz indicated that the rearview mirror was likely
detached with the first impact. As the truck continued its counterclockwise rotation, the
right side of the right front wheel and quarter panel struck the second tree in the tree line.
During the second impact, the front axle separated from the frame and the right front door
flew open. Enz indicated that the right front seat occupant would have been ejected to the
west of the tree line. Enz noted that the defendant was the only occupant found near the
tree line and east of the cab. As the front end of the vehicle rotated toward the north, the
chassis and bed separated from the cab and came to rest against a tree west of the cab. The
vehicle continued to rotate counterclockwise, and the left rear of the vehicle struck the
embankment. The right front door of the cab was beginning to face the roadway when the
cab struck the ground. Because of the deceleration, at least one of the occupants was
ejected. When the occupant hit the ground, his blood spattered near the edge of the
roadway. This was where Tyler was found. Then, as the cab came to rest, the remaining
occupant would have been ejected. Troy was found just south and west of Tyler.
¶ 43 Based upon the physical evidence, the location of ejected occupants, and the crash
dynamics, Enz opined that the defendant could not have been the driver of the vehicle. Enz
reasoned that there was only one time during the crash event when the right side of the cab
was pointed toward the tree line. If the defendant had been the driver, and therefore the
third occupant ejected from the vehicle, then all three occupants would have been found
near or along the tree line. Enz stated that evidence showed that the defendant was the only
17
occupant found near the tree line, east of the cab. Troy and Tyler were found west of the
cab. Enz concluded that the defendant was seated in the front passenger seat and ejected
first. Enz testified that Tyler’s DNA could have been on the front passenger air bag if he
had been seated in the middle seat because Tyler would have been sliding to the right and
the defendant would have been pushed against the door. Enz did not offer an explanation
as to why Tyler had severe injuries to his right arm, and the defendant did not.
¶ 44 In his testimony and his report, Enz was somewhat critical of the police for failing
to preserve evidence, including the truck itself, and failing to fingerprint the key and
driver’s side door handle. But Enz credited them with taking a tremendous number of
photographs that documented the scene of the crash. Enz testified that he had sufficient
physical evidence and information to reconstruct the accident and to determine the
approximate speed of the truck, its basic movements, and the order of ejection of the
occupants.
¶ 45 The defense also offered testimony from character witnesses. In a written
statement, Ricci Ostermeyer noted that he had worked with the defendant at the month-
long training in canine bomb detection. Ostermeyer opined that the defendant was
levelheaded and extremely careful. Ostermeyer had not known the defendant to drive after
he had been drinking. Zachary Moore and the defendant grew up together. Moore testified
that the defendant was levelheaded and had never put anyone’s well-being in jeopardy.
Moore stated that the defendant was respectful of the law. Moore did not believe the
defendant would drive while intoxicated. During earlier testimony, Darlene Harner stated
that the defendant had a wonderful reputation in the community.
18
¶ 46 At the close of the evidence, the trial court took the matter under advisement. On
November 19, 2021, the court issued its verdict. The court found that the defendant was
guilty of reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence resulting in the death
of Troy Newman, and aggravated driving under the influence resulting in permanent injury
to Tyler Inman. The court later vacated the guilty verdict on reckless homicide under the
one act, one crime rule.
¶ 47 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 48 On appeal, the defendant contends that the State failed to prove he was guilty of
felony aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol beyond a reasonable doubt. The
defendant argues that the totality of the evidence demonstrates that he was not, and could
not have been, the driver of the vehicle at the time of the accident, and thus, there was a
reasonable doubt as to an essential element of the charged offenses.
¶ 49 When considering a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, the reviewing court
must determine whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the
prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime
beyond a reasonable doubt. People v. Cunningham, 212 Ill. 2d 274, 279 (2004) (quoting
Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318 (1979)). When conducting this inquiry, it is not the
role of a reviewing court to retry the defendant. Cunningham, 212 Ill. 2d at 279. The
reviewing court must carefully examine the record, keeping in mind that it was the trier of
fact who saw and heard the witnesses. Cunningham, 212 Ill. 2d at 280. A reviewing court
will not substitute its judgment for that of the trier of fact on questions involving the
credibility of the witnesses, the weight of the evidence, and the reasonable inferences to be
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drawn from the evidence. People v. Jophlin, 2018 IL App (4th) 150802, ¶ 38. Testimony
may be found insufficient only where it is clear from the record that no reasonable person
could find it credible beyond a reasonable doubt. Cunningham, 212 Ill. 2d at 280. A
reviewing court will not reverse a criminal conviction unless the evidence is so
unreasonable, improbable, or unsatisfactory that it creates a reasonable doubt about the
defendant’s guilt. Jophlin, 2018 IL App (4th) 150802, ¶ 38.
¶ 50 A person commits the offense of aggravated DUI, a Class 2 felony, when he drives
or is in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and is
involved in a motor vehicle accident that results in the death of another person, and the act
of driving the vehicle under the influence of alcohol is a proximate cause of the death. 625
ILCS 5/11-501(d)(1)(F) (West 2018). A person commits the offense of aggravated DUI, a
Class 4 felony, when he drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the
influence of alcohol and is involved in a motor vehicle accident that results in the great
bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to another person, and the act of
driving the vehicle under the influence of alcohol is a proximate cause of the injury. 625
ILCS 5/11-501(d)(1)(C) (West 2018).
¶ 51 In this case, the primary question before the trial court, sitting as the trier of fact,
was which of the occupants was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash. The defendant
contends that the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was driving the
vehicle at the time of the accident. Initially, the defendant argues that no reasonable fact
finder could have reasonably found his expert’s testimony unworthy of belief. The
defendant claims that his expert was more experienced than the State’s expert. The
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defendant also claims that his expert provided the basis for his opinion that the defendant
could not have been the driver. The defendant asserts that the State’s expert never explained
how the ejected occupants could have arrived at the locations where they were found if the
defendant had been the driver. The defendant concludes that his expert’s opinion, standing
alone, created reasonable doubt that the defendant was the driver.
¶ 52 It is the function of the trier of fact to evaluate the testimony of the experts and to
weigh the relative worth of their opinions in context. People v. Hillis, 2016 IL App (4th)
150703, ¶ 134. When experts offer different opinions and conclusions, the fact finder is
entitled to believe one expert over the other. Hillis, 2016 IL App (4th) 150703, ¶ 134. Here,
before announcing the verdict, the trial court stated that it considered the qualifications and
experience of the witnesses. The court also stated that it judged the credibility of the
witnesses and the weight to be given to the testimony of each witness. A review of the trial
transcript shows that the testimony of the experts as to the dynamics of the accident and
the movement of the vehicle were not all that different. Although the experts reached
different conclusions regarding the calculated speed of the vehicle, they agreed that the
vehicle was traveling well over the speed limit when it failed to negotiate the curve on the
roadway and began to slide. The trial court, as the finder of fact, could have reasonably
determined that Sergeant Brachear’s opinion that the defendant was the driver was
supported by other evidence, including the evidence of Tyler’s DNA on the passenger air
bag, the nature and location of Tyler’s injuries, Tyler’s statements regarding who was
driving the vehicle, and the evidence that the rearview mirror was found near the defendant.
In addition, the court may have considered the evidence that the defendant was somewhat
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possessive of his vehicle and ordinarily would not want others to drive it. Upon considering
the conflicting opinions of the experts in the context of the other evidence, the trier of fact
could have reasonably concluded that the defense expert’s testimony was unconvincing.
After carefully considering the record, we do not find that that the opinions of the
defendant’s expert, standing alone, created reasonable doubt that the defendant was the
driver.
¶ 53 The defendant also argues that Tyler’s testimony was not credible. He claims that
Tyler was not a disinterested witness because his close friend was killed in the crash. He
claims Tyler was biased because Tyler had filed a civil suit against the defendant and had
a financial interest in the outcome. The defendant further claims that Tyler’s memory was
spotty, and that his testimony was inconsistent with known or probable facts.
¶ 54 In this case, the trial court had an opportunity to observe Tyler’s memory, his
demeanor, and his credibility as he testified. The record demonstrates that Tyler was
vigorously cross-examined by defense counsel. Tyler admitted that he had an incomplete
memory of the events on the night of the crash. Tyler testified that he remembered that he
was in the passenger seat, and that when he began to brace himself for the impact, he looked
across and saw that the defendant was driving the truck. The trial court also had the
opportunity to view both of Tyler’s videotaped interviews with investigators, and to
consider any inconsistencies between Tyler’s trial testimony and his recorded statements.
Those video recordings were not offered into evidence and are not in the record on appeal.
The State offered circumstantial and scientific evidence that supported Tyler’s testimony.
Here, the trial court was in a superior position to judge the credibility of Tyler’s testimony.
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The trial court may have reasonably found that Tyler’s testimony was credible, and we will
not disturb that determination on appeal. Jophlin, 2018 IL App (4th) 150802, ¶ 38.
¶ 55 The defendant also argues that the evidence of the defendant’s good character and
respect for the law provided additional proof of reasonable doubt. As the State points out,
the defendant’s blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit on the night of the
crash. Thus, the trial court, as the trier of fact, may have reasonably found that the defendant
did not exercise reasonable judgment that night, and that he drove recklessly. The court
may have reasonably concluded that the defendant’s aunt and the defendant’s lifelong
friend were biased and that their testimony was entitled to little weight. The court may also
have assigned little weight to the testimony of the defendant’s other character witness,
Ricci Ostermeyer, as he had known the defendant for only one month.
¶ 56 Finally, the defendant claims that a negative inference should have been drawn from
the failure of the police to preserve the truck and to test specific items of evidence. The
defendant asks this court to draw the negative inference, and thereby strengthen the
evidence of reasonable doubt. Throughout the trial, and during closing argument, the
defendant pointed to errors by the police, including the failure to preserve the truck, to test
ignition key and the driver’s door for fingerprints, and to analyze blood samples collected
at the scene. The defendant argued that the investigation was flawed as a result of the
missing evidence. It is noteworthy that the defendant’s own expert testified that the missing
evidence did not impede his reconstruction of the accident. In delivering the verdict, the
trial court stated that it considered all of the evidence, exhibits, and stipulations. It is the
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role of the fact finder to weigh the evidence and draw reasonable inferences therefrom, and
we will not substitute our judgment for that of the fact finder on those matters.
¶ 57 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 58 In this case, the trial court considered the testimony and determined that the State
presented sufficient evidence to demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant
was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash. The trial court, as fact finder, considered
the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given the testimony. As a reviewing
court, we do not reweigh the evidence, but rather determine whether any rational trier of
fact could have found the elements of the crimes beyond a reasonable doubt. After carefully
reviewing the record, we conclude that a rational trier of fact could have found beyond a
reasonable doubt that the defendant was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash, and
that he was guilty of aggravated driving under influence of alcohol resulting in the death
of Troy Newman and permanent injuries to Tyler Inman.
¶ 59 Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
¶ 60 Affirmed.
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