Distracted Driving and Other Accidents From Geneva Police Reports

A plastic bag moving around inside a vehicle results in a collision. 

A motorcylist tries to make a U-turn and flips over.

DUI charges after a collision at 3:55 a.m.

These are some of the items in a collection from the Geneva Police Department blotter. Because of the volume, this is Part 1 or two stories.

Accident on Anderson Boulevard—The front of a Jeep Liberty driven by Bridget Weitzel, 26, of Geneva collided with the rear of a Toyota FJ Cruiser driven by Kathryn Russell, 38, of Geneva around 5:29 p.m. March 19 in the 700 block of Anderson Boulevard near Gray Street, reports said. More than $1,500 damage was done to any one vehicle. Weitzel told police she was distracted by a plastic bag moving around inside the vehicle and after trying to collect the bag, she looked up and saw that the FJ Cruiser has slowed. She was issued a warning ticket for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Accident at Division Street and East Side Drive—The front of a Hyundai Elantra driven by Michael Daniello, 28, of Geneva collided with the driver’s side of a Honda Civic driven by Brandi Malcolm, 26, of St. Charles around 6:40 p.m. March 29 at the intersection of Division Street and East Side Drive, reports said. More than $1,500 damage was done to any one vehicle. Daniello was issued a warning ticket for failure to yield turning left.

Accident at Hamilton and North Third Street—The front of a Hyundai Accent driven by Tiffani Lane, 23, of Sugar Grove collided with the front of a Buick Lesabre drive by Jacob Haas, 27, of Geneva around 5:50 p.m. March 29 at the intersection of Hamilton Street and North Third Street, reports said. Between $501 and $1,500 damage was done to any one vehicle. Lane was issued a warning ticket for failure to yield at a stop intersection.

Accident on West State Street—The front of a Chevrolet Malibu driven by Tyler Sills, 27, of St. Charles collided with the rear of a Nissan Quest driven by Kimberly Dezonno, 38, of Geneva around 3:10 p.m. March 20 in the 600 block of West State Street near Sixth Street, reports said. Between $501 and $1,500 damage was done to any one vehicle. Sills was issued a warning ticket for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. 

Accident on Private Property on Wheeler Drive—the front of a Buick LeSabre driven by Mary Fitzsimmons, 78, of Geneva collided with the rear of an Acura TL driven by Sheila VanBockern, 68, of St. Charles around 9 a.m. March 15 on private property in the 400 block of Wheeler Drive, reports said. More than $1,500 damage was done to any one vehicle.

Accident on Fargo Boulevard—The front of a Ford Taurus driven by Amanda Harrah, 20, of Geneva collided with the rear of a Volkswagen Jetta driven by Jeffrey Cadwallader, 34, of Geneva around 4:05 p.m. March 15 in the 2400 block of Fargo Boulevard, reports said. Between $501 and $1,500 damage was done to any one vehicle.

Accident on East State Street—The front of a Lexus RX350 driven by Richard Wake, 57, of St. Chares collided with the rear of a Toyota Highlander driven by Margaret Stone, 58, of Geneva around 6:17 p.m. March 15 at the intersection of East State Street and North Kirk Road, reports said. More than $1,500 damage was done to any one vehicle.

Accident on Franklin Street—The front of a Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Rose Lytle, 62, of St. Charles collided with the rear of a Cadillac SRX driven by Harriet Cohen, 83, of Geneva around 4:56 p.m. March 15 in the 300 block of Franklyn Street, reports said. More than $1,500 damage was done to any one vehicle.

U-Turn Leads to Motorcycle Accident on Crescent Place—A Kawasaki Ninja driven by Melody Nieckula, 35, of North Aurora sustained between $501 and $1,500 damage after it overturned while attempting a u-turn, reports said. Nieckula was driving south in the 500 block of South Third Street, when she attempted the u-turn onto northbound South Third Street. The motorcycle overturned, causing Nieckula to hit her face on the windshield and cutting her nose. She was treated by Medic 251 but she signed a refusal form. The report said the damage to the motorcycle was “cosmetic only.”

Accident on East Fabyan Parkway—The front of a Plymouth Colt driven by Reyes Salinas-Bernal, 41, of West Chicago collided with the rear of a Jeep Liberty driven by Annette Christiansen, 52, of Geneva around 3:18 p.m. March 14 in the 1200 block of East Fabyan Parkway, reports said. Salinas-Bernal was charged with driving without a license and driving without insurance and was issued a warning notice for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. More than $1,500 damage was done to any one vehicle.

Accident at Kirk Road and East State Street—The front of a Mazda 3 driven by Heath Barker, 40, of Bartlett collided with the rear of a Pontiac Sunfire driven by Donald Smith, 59, of Geneva around 3:55 a.m. at the intersection of Kirk Road and East State Street, reports said. Barker was charged with DUI and disobeying a traffic control signal.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity in Geneva, using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime, or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member are charged with a crime or cited for a violation, and the charge or citation is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify Geneva editor Rick Nagel at rickn@patch.com and we will do follow-up reporting on the case.