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A tragic incident in Geneva, Illinois, involves a 20-year-old charged with the fatal collision that claimed the lives of an elderly couple last year in the western suburbs.
The young man’s reckless actions included driving at speeds approaching 120 mph in a car he allegedly took from his workplace.
Charles T. Rodgers, a resident of St. Charles, appeared in court on Friday. He faces several serious charges, such as Unlawful Possession of a Stolen/Converted Motor Vehicle, Reckless Homicide, Aggravated Reckless Driving, and Speeding, as reported by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office on Saturday.
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The collision occurred at around 1:40 p.m. on September 5, 2025, at the intersection of Bricher Road and Fisher Drive, according to local authorities.
Police stated that a Geneva man driving a 2005 Toyota Corolla attempted to turn onto Bricher Road from Fisher Drive, only to be hit by a BMW X3 speeding along Bricher.
The 85-year-old driver and his 88-year-old wife who was a passenger in the vehicle were both killed in the crash. They were identified as Dennis White, 85, and Ritsuko White, 88.
“The BMW was driven by Rodgers, who had three passengers in the car with him,” the Kane County State’s Attorney Office said in a news release. “Rodgers was not legally allowed to possess the car and had obtained it from a St. Charles Chrysler Dodge dealership where he was employed at the time.”
Prosecutors in court Friday said Rodgers accelerated to 119 mph moments before the crash and did not attempt to brake, instead swerving and unsuccessfully avoiding the collision.
The vehicle Rodgers was driving caught fire after the crash, but was extinguished, police said at the time.
“Two of the BMW’s passengers suffered fractures as a result of the crash,” the Kane County State’s Attorney Office said in a news release. “The third passenger was medically released at the scene.”
Rodgers was released under home electronic monitoring pending trial. He is banned from driving and making contact with the survivors of the crash, officials said.
Rodgers is scheduled to appear in court again May 20.
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