SPRINGFIELD — A Springfield woman who caused a crash that killed a popular Springfield youth coach and business owner in 2023 was sentenced in Sangamon County court last week.
Marina Rhone, 32, was sentenced on May 28 to 11 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections by Seventh Circuit Court Associate Judge Rudolph Braud.
Several family members of Kevin L. Crews Sr. read victim impact statements in court.
Rhone pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated driving under the influence on March 26.
Crews, a cancer survivor, was traveling westbound on Cook Street following a doctor’s appointment on May 1, 2023. Crews’ son was following behind him in a separate vehicle.
According to the Springfield Police Department, witnesses saw Rhone’s car speed along Second Street, then attempt to get around vehicles stopped at a red light by entering the bike lane.
Rhone ran the stoplight, striking Crews’ Chevy Silverado on the driver’s side. Crews’ son was not involved in the crash.
Crews was taken to Springfield Memorial Hospital from the scene and died five days later. Rhone was also hospitalized at Memorial.
Crews’ mother, wife, two sisters, a daughter and a son all read victim impact statements in court. Other written statements on Crews’ behalf were submitted to the court.
Crews was a Chicago native who played basketball at Corliss High School and coached youth basketball and football. He founded several of his own businesses.
The State and the defense agreed to cap any sentence to 12 years. Assistant State’s Attorney Brittney Lehr asked the court for 12 years while Rhone’s attorney, Mark Wykoff of Springfield asked for eight years.
Rhone will serve the 11-year sentence at 85% followed by a two-year period of mandatory supervised release.
Rhone gets credit for three years and 12 days of jail time served.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788: sspearie@sj-r.com: X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Woman sentenced for causing 2023 fatal crash in Springfield
Reporting by Steven Spearie, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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