New Lenox man gets 8 years for DUI crash that caused friend’s death

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July 18

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that a drunken driver who crashed his vehicle and killed his passenger in 2012 was sentenced to eight years in prison on Friday.

Kevin Krohn, 23, of New Lenox entered a blind plea on July 14 to aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol that involved someone’s death. He faced between three and 14 years in prison.

Krohn was intoxicated when he lost control of his Dodge Stratus and crashed into a retaining wall, a tree and phone switching box near 104th Avenue and Steger Road on Aug. 25, 2012.

The defendant was able to exit the vehicle.  The passenger, Jake Stevens, 22, was killed when the car burst into flames. Stevens, who was Krohn’s friend, was trapped and burned to death inside the vehicle.

Krohn was taken to the hospital where his blood-alcohol level was measured at .09. He also tested positive for marijuana.

“Jake Stevens suffered a horrific death because Kevin Krohn chose to get behind the wheel and drive while he was intoxicated,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “This was a callous decision that should haunt the defendant in the years he spends behind bars and for the rest of his life.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Fred Harvey secured the conviction and sentence.  The case was investigated by the Will County Sheriff’s Department.