A Wonder Lake woman was sentenced to four years in prison for driving drunk and on drugs, causing a crash that killed a 44-year-old man in 2019 in Woodstock.
Shannon M. Velmont, 47, of the 3000 block of East Chestnut Drive in Wonder Lake, was indicted on five counts of aggravated driving under the influence, three counts of driving under the influence and one count of operating an uninsured motor vehicle causing bodily harm.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office reached a negotiated plea deal with Velmont and she pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated driving under the influence causing death, a Class 2 felony.
In exchange, prosecutors dismissed all eight other charges against her, court records show.
McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt approved the plea deal and sentenced Velmont to four years in prison on Wednesday.
The charges stem from a vehicle crash that occurred around 1:07 p.m. December 27, 2019, in the 16700 block of Nelson Road in unincorporated Woodstock.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said at the time that a 2009 Mitsubishi Galant, driven by Velmont, was traveling westbound on Nelson Road.
Velmont, whose driver’s license was revoked at the time of the crash, drove into the eastbound lane of traffic and then left the roadway to the south where the vehicle struck a tree east of Deep Cut Road.
Velmont suffered serious injuries, while her passenger, 44-year-old Al Irwin, of Capron, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Velmont had to be extricated from the vehicle by firefighters and flown by a Flight For Life medical helicopter to Javon Bea Hospital-Riverside in Rockford.
Sheriff’s officials said that seat belts were worn by both occupants and airbags deployed.
Prosecutors said that the woman’s blood alcohol content was 0.138 and she had numerous controlled substances in her system, including fentanyl and morphine.
A sentencing order shows that Velmont will be required to serve her four-year sentence at 85%. She will also be required to pay $2,083 in court costs.