Witter takes plea bargain

By: Chris Luther/City editor

Posted: 7/19/05

The Town Branch creek accident, which occurred near the intersection of Fifth Street and Van Buren Avenue in December 2004, resulted in four different people facing charges.

The driver, Kyle T. Witter, 23, of Darien, pleaded guilty to four charges on July 15 and was the last person from the accident to receive punishment.

Witter entered the plea to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to report an accident, failure to give information or render aid and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

If convicted of the felony charges, Witter could have received a 12-year prison sentence. He agreed to enter a guilty plea under less serious charges.

Witter was placed on a 2-year probation term, which includes a six-month jail term starting Sept. 20, 2005, undergoing alcohol treatment, a $2,000 fine, 200 hours of public service and ordered not to drink alcohol while on probation. Witter's jail term can be cut in half for good behavior.

Earlier this summer, Peter Ward, of Charleston, agreed to a plea bargain that included one-year probation, a $500 fine, an alcohol and drug counseling class and 100 hours of community service.

Lindsey Branson, of Clarendon Hills, and David John, of Darien, pleaded guilty in January to charges of minor consumption of alcohol.

The only person involved in the crash who didn't face charges was Charice Guman, of Westmont. According to police reports, Guman was found inside the car, which had overturned and was lying in the creek, and was unconscious. Guman suffered a fractured vertebrae in the accident.