Former Homer Glen Man Gets 12 Years For 2020 Fatal DUI Crash

HOMER GLEN, IL — DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced Monday that a former Homer Glen man charged with causing a crash that killed a 51-year-old man was sentenced to twelve years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

According to the State's Attorney's Office, Robert Ebel, 55, appeared in court Monday in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell, who handed down the sentence. On April 30, Ebel entered a blind plea of guilty to one count of aggravated DUI – accident causing death, which is a Class 2 felony.

On Aug. 22, 2020, at approximately 2 p.m., Ebel was driving a 2015 Tesla at a high rate of speed on Interstate 55 south of Cass Avenue in Darien, the State's Attorney's Office said in a release. As Ebel approached a semi-truck, he attempted to pass the truck on the right-hand shoulder of the road and crashed into a disabled Toyota on the shoulder occupied by John Exner.

Upon arrival at the crash, authorities immediately transported Exner to a local hospital where he was treated for life-threatening injuries including a collapsed lung, internal bleeding and injury to his spleen, the State's Attorney's Office said. Exner later died from his injuries at the hospital.

An investigation into the matter found that Ebel had amphetamine, cocaine metabolite, cocaine and THC in his system at the time of the crash, the State's Attorney's Office said.

“Mr. Ebel’s incredibly dangerous behavior that afternoon cost John Exner his life,” Berlin said. “While a twelve-year sentence will never replace the love and support John once provided to his friends and family, perhaps knowing that the man responsible for his death will be held responsible, will help them gain some measure of closure in this horrible chapter in their lives. Additionally, perhaps Mr. Ebel’s twelve-year sentence will help him recognize the extent of the pain and suffering he caused because of his decision to get behind the wheel with illegal narcotics in his system. I thank the Illinois State Police for their efforts in this very sad case. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Jennifer Lindt, Denis Cahill and John Segoviano for their efforts in holding Mr. Ebel responsible for the death of John Exner.”

Ebel will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole, according to the State's Attorney's Office. He will receive credit for 958 days he has already spent in custody.