By Kathy Whitaker, The Chicago Times
March 17, 2023
AURORA, IL – A Geneva man pleaded guilty on Thursday for his role in a DUI crash that killed a Maywood resident and injured two other men.
According to prosecutors, on March 7, 2022, at approximately 7:40 pm, Aurora police officers responded to a crash on northbound Eola Road. On scene, police discovered Willie Mosley, of Maywood, Illinois, suffering from serious injuries after being pinned between a vehicle and truck. Mosley was later pronounced dead at an area hospital. Two other men suffered non-life threatening injuries.
After further investigation, it was discovered that Nicholas Roepke, 30, of the 0N200 block of Dooley Dr, had crashed his vehicle into a truck being used by Mosely and another man to transport a refrigerator. Before the fatal crash, Mosely and another man had pulled over to reload the refrigerator that had fallen off the truck. A third man had pulled over to help reload the refrigerator. According to Aurora police, Roepke’s blood alcohol concentration was .214 per a test taken shortly after the crash.
“Just over one year ago, Willie Mosley’s life came to a violent, abrupt end simply because Mr. Roepke, with a stunning disregard for not only his own personal safety, but also the safety of innocent others, got behind the wheel after he had been drinking. Driving is a privilege, not a right. It is a privilege and a responsibility that if not respected, can lead to tragic, irreversible outcomes, as we saw in this case. There are no words I can offer to the family and friends of Mr. Mosley that will fill the void caused by his absence.” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.
Roepke pleaded guilty to one felony count of aggravated DUI causing death and one felony count of aggravated DUI causing great bodily harm.
Roepke faces up to fourteen years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
The Chicago Times 