May 17, 2024

JOLIET —Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that Dakea Sanner, 29, of
Crest Hill, has been sentenced to 6 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 today 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 that 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 that 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 6-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections will be served at 85 percent, and
Sanner also is subject to a period of 2 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.