Man gets 10-year prison term in DUI death of Naperville motorcyclist
BY BILL BIRD wbird@stmedianetwork.com December 21, 2012 6:20PM
David C. Dietrich
Updated: January 27, 2013 6:16AM
A man who admitted causing a drunken driving crash late last year that killed a businessman from Naperville was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison.
David C. Dietrich, who listed addresses in Shorewood and Channahon, turns 34 on Saturday. He was convicted of aggravated driving under the influence resulting in the death of George A. Weikum, 58, of Naperville.
Will County Circuit Court Judge Richard C. Schoenstedt imposed the 10-year term. Dietrich faced a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
Charles B. Pelkie, spokesman for Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow, said Friday Dietrich under Illinois law must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being considered for parole.
The crash occurred about 4:28 p.m. Oct. 8, 2011 on Route 59 near Joseph Street, between 135th and 143rd streets in Plainfield. The crash scene was not far from Weikum’s business, G & C Landscape and Building Inc.
Plainfield police in 2011 said Dietrich was driving his 2005 Ford Ranger pickup truck south on Route 59 just north of Joseph Street when he lost control of it and hit the center median. The truck rolled over and struck Weikum, who was riding north on his 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, police said.
Weikum was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Dietrich was taken to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet for treatment and discharged the next day.
Dietrich on Oct. 23 pleaded guilty to the aggravated DUI charge.
A wrongful death lawsuit was filed Oct. 4 against Dietrich in Will County on behalf of Weikum’s widow, Collette Weikum, and the couple’s daughter.
Tamarack Golf Club and Victory Baseball also are named as defendants in the litigation. Tamarack Golf Club is in the unincorporated Tamarack Fairways section of Will County northwest of 111th Street and Route 59 between Naperville and Plainfield.
The suit contends Dietrich on the day of the crash became intoxicated while working at the Victory Baseball 9U Victory Gold event, and was overserved alcohol there. The six-count lawsuit seeks a minimum of $50,000 in damages on each charge.
James D. Spiros, the personal injury attorney representing the Weikum family, said earlier this year George Weikum “was a very dedicated husband, father and community member,” whose death “has been a tragic situation for the family, resulting in a tremendous void.”
Spiros late Friday afternoon did not immediately return a message left at his firm that sought comment on Dietrich’s sentencing.
Collette Weikum was reached late Friday afternoon at her home in Naperville’s White Eagle Club area. She declined to comment on the sentencing.
