Man responsible for deadly 2010 car crash on Newburg/South Perryville sentenced

Online Staff Report

Justin L. Bartlett, 21, was sentenced to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol involving death and eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of unlawful possession of weapons by a felon and five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of possession of firearm ammunition without requisite firearms owner’s identification card. The sentences will run concurrent. However, the defendant was on probation for aggravated battery when he committed these offenses, which resulted in the judge sentencing him to 3 1/2 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the aggravated battery, which will run consecutive to the other sentences.

At approximately 12:04 a.m., Aug. 26, 2010, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police were dispatched to the intersection of Newburg Road and South Perryville Road in reference to a traffic crash. Two vehicles, a black Honda Civic, with heavy driver-side damage, and a purple Chrysler Sebring, with heavy front-end damage, were located just east of the intersection on the south side of the road resting on the curbs.

The driver of the Honda, Christopher Krenzer, was trapped inside the vehicle. Krenzer was transported to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Krenzer died as a result of injuries he suffered in the crash.

The driver of the Chrysler was identified as Justin Bartlett. Bartlett had gotten himself out of his car and was trying to get up off the ground, and deputies told him to sit still so medical personnel could assist him as well. Witnesses stated they observed the Chrysler driven by Bartlett to be traveling at a very high rate of speed eastbound on Newburg. Crash reconstruction determined Bartlett’s vehicle was traveling between 93 and 104 mph at the time of the crash.

Witnesses stated Bartlett ran the red light at the intersection and struck the Honda driven by Krenzer, which was in the northbound lane of Perryville going to turn left onto Newburg and had the green light.

Bartlett was transported to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center for medical treatment. Bartlett had the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his mouth as he spoke, and he was slurring his speech. Bartlett’s left eye was swollen, but his right eye was bloodshot and glossy.

Testing done at the crime lab indicated Bartlett had a blood alcohol level of .115, which is in excess of the legal limit of .08, and marijuana was in his system.

Bartlett was interviewed by detectives and admitted the Chrysler was his car and that he was driving at the time of the crash. Bartlett stated that after he was involved in the crash, he attempted to leave the scene, however his car would not move.

A search warrant was obtained for Bartlett’s Chrysler and deputies located a .22-caliber Astra semi-automatic pistol and .22-caliber ammunition concealed in the center console near the gear selector in the Chrysler.

Bartlett has previously been convicted of aggravated battery and was on probation, which was vacated based on a petition filed from the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s office. Bartlett’s intoxication was a proximate cause of Krenzer’s death.

Aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol is a class 2 felony that has a sentencing range of three to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, which is served at 85 percent with two years mandatory supervised release. A sentence of probation may be entered if the court makes a finding that extraordinary circumstances exist requiring probation.

Unlawful possession of weapons by a felon is a class 2 felony with a sentencing range of three to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections with two years mandatory supervised release.

Possession of firearm ammunition without a requisite firearm owner’s identification card is a class 3 felony with a sentencing range of two to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections with one year mandatory supervised release or probation. However, the defendant was extended-term eligible, which results in a sentencing range of two to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Aggravated battery is a class 3 felony with a sentencing range of two to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, or probation.