Elgin man sentenced to 11 years for fatal DUI crash

Shannon D. Hill, 19, has pleaded guilty for a fatal DUI crash and to an unrelated charge for selling heroin to an undercover officer, police said Friday.

Hill, of Elgin, was sentenced to 11 years Thursday for a failure to report an accident involving death, reckless homicide and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, police said.

Hill was driving westbound on Plank Road west of Burlington, Ill. around 12:45 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2012, when his car crossed into the eastbound lane and rolled over. Police said evidence showed that the car was travelling around 100 mph before it rolled over. Lawrence Echols, 17, who was riding in the rear right seat, was killed in the incident. Two other passengers suffered injuries, officials said.

Police said Hill told the surviving passengers not to report the crash before he fled on foot. He was found nine hours later at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, and had reportedly consumed alcohol and marijuana before the crash, officials said.

"This is another sad case of a young person discovering after it is too late that there is great risk and often a great price to pay for impaired driving. We hope this sentence gives Lawrence Echols' family a sense of peace and justice," Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon said.

In October 2012, Hill sold 1.1 grams of heroin to an undercover police officer in exchange for a Sony Playstation 3 gaming console, police said.