The driver of a Corvette that went off Lisbon Road Feb. 6, causing the death of passenger, pleaded guilty in circuit court Wednesday to an aggravated DUI charge.
Brandon Gates, 22, 819 E. Jefferson St., pleaded guilty to count 2 of the indictment charging he drove a 1986 Corvette while his blood alcohol level wasgreater than .08 and was involved in an accident at Lisbon Road and Boulder Drive, which resulted in the death of Dennis “J.D.” Fromm.
The Grundy County Probation Department was directed to prepare a pre-sentence report and sentencing was set for Sept. 18.
Morris police and the Grundy County Coroner reported Gates was driving northbound on Lisbon Road about 11:30 p.m. Feb. 6, when the car went off the east side of Lisbon Road, about 200 feet south of Boulder Drive.
The car went across Boulder Drive, flew about 50 feet and rolled into a group of small trees on the east side of the road.
Dennis “J.D.” Fromm, 22, of 7810 Susan St., was thrown from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gates suffered only minor injuries. He was held on $50,000 cash bond.