In Downers Grove, Illinois, authorities report that a teenager from Oak Brook was driving at a staggering speed of 104 miles per hour just before a tragic accident that claimed the lives of a couple.
The DuPage County State’s Attorney announced that a judge released Francesco Rendina, 17, from custody on Monday.
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The fatal collision occurred in March at the intersection of Highland Avenue and 35th Street.
The victims, Reid Jacobsen, aged 72, and his wife, Katherine, aged 67, were struck by a BMW shortly before 7 p.m., leading to their untimely deaths.
Downers Grove Police Chief Michael DeVries expressed the far-reaching impact of the incident, emphasizing it as a stark warning against reckless driving and excessive speed. “Our hearts go out to the victims’ families as they navigate through this immense grief,” he stated.
Rendina is charged as an adult with reckless homicide.
He and a passenger were also seriously injured in the crash.
“Mr. Rendina’s alleged reckless driving on a busy road that resulted in a horrific crash and the loss of two lives demonstrates his complete disregard for public safety,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said. “To the family and friends of Ried and Katherine Jacobsen, I offer my sincerest condolences on their tragic loss. The sudden, heartbreaking loss of a loved one is devastating, and I wish them strength as they continue their lives with just their memories of Ried and Katherine to see them through. I commend the Downers Grove Police Department for their outstanding work on this very sad case and the DuPage MERIT Major Crash Reconstruction Team for their work as well. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Nick Catizone and Sandi Tanoue for their efforts in preparing charges against Mr. Rendina.”
Rendina is due back in court next month.
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