A Lakemoor man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for driving drunk and drugged, killing a 21-year-old man, who was in college on a full-ride scholarship, in a head-on crash near Harvard.
Max P. McNamara, 33, of Lakemoor, was charged in December 2023 with seven counts of aggravated driving under the influence causing death, a Class 2 felony.
McNamara was initially charged in October 2023 with driving under the influence, a Class A misdemeanor, before the charges were upgraded.
The charges were the result of a three-vehicle crash with injuries that occurred around 1:52 a.m. on October 1, 2023, at Route 173 west of Flat Iron Road in unincorporated Harvard.
The Harvard Fire Protection District, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Harvard Police Department, Capron Rescue Squad, Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts and Mercyhealth MD-1 responded to the scene.
An investigation showed a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by McNamara, was traveling eastbound on Route 173, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Chevrolet crossed into the westbound lane of travel and collided with the left front of a 2017 Lincoln MKX.
The Lincoln drove off of the roadway to the south following the impact.
The Chevrolet continued traveling eastbound and collided head-on with a 2015 Ford Taurus that was traveling westbound, the sheriff’s office said.
Two Mercyhealth REACT medical helicopters were called and landed at the scene.
McNamara was transported by helicopter to Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital – Riverside in Rockford in serious condition.
McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein said the driver of the Ford, identified as Dejan Kuljanin, 21, of Rockford, was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy confirmed Kuljanin died as a result of blunt force trauma from the crash, Rein said.
Sheriff’s officials said McNamara was driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs at the time of the crash.
Prosecutors said McNamara had both cocaine and alcohol in his system, with a blood alcohol content that registered over two times the legal limit.
The driver of the Lincoln, a 28-year-old Rockford woman, along with the passenger, a 34-year-old Rockford woman, were treated at the scene and released.
An obituary for Kuljanin said he was a fourth-year student at Rockford University studying elementary education on a full-ride scholarship.
He was enrolled in their Master’s program and planned to become a teacher in the Rockford Public School District.
The obituary said Kuljanin had a passion for helping children and the elderly.
Kuljanin planned on enrolling in nursing school and had plans to teach and work as a nurse.
“In Dejan’s young life, he had accomplished so much… Dejan was the epitome of what any good person strives to become. Many friends and family leaned on him for advice, support, and encouragement,” the family said in the obituary.
“Dejan’s young, kind, and generous heart will be sorely missed by numerous other relatives and dear friends in the USA, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and worldwide,” the obituary said.
Prosecutors filed a petition to detain McNamara pending trial following his arrest, calling him a real and present danger to the community, court records show.
McHenry County Judge Michael Chmiel granted the petition and remanded McNamara to the McHenry County Jail while he awaited trial.
Court records show McNamara entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office this week.
He pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of aggravated driving under the influence causing death, a Class 2 felony, in exchange for an eight-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
The plea agreement was approved by McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said after the hearing that she recognizes that those who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs “continue to destroy the lives of so many families in our community.”
“DUIs are not victimless crimes. This was a senseless loss of life and the family of this young man is forever changed by this tragic event,” Freese said.
Freese commended the McHenry County Sheriff’s Major Crash Investigation Unit for their “thorough investigation of this tragedy” and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office for their “hard work and assistance” in the prosecution of the case.
McNamara will be required to serve 85% of his sentence under truth-in-sentencing guidelines.
He will receive 442 days of credit for time served awaiting trial and an additional 199 days of credit for time engaged in a self-improvement program or volunteer work.