Judge gives Elgin man 12 years for crash killing two Judson students

Judson University students put together a memorial in April 2021 for classmates, Dallas Colburn and Nathanael Madison, who were killed at the school’s Elgin campus entrance by a driver who was street racing while high on cannabis. (Judson University / HANDOUT)
An Elgin man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for killing two Judson University students in a 2021 crash that occurred while he was high on cannabis and street racing at more than 80 mph on Route 31.
Trevon D. Morris, 23, of the 400 block of Stella Avenue, pleaded guilty in October to felony aggravated DUI in connection with the deaths of Dallas Colburn, of Plano, and Nathanael Madison, of Wernersville, Pennsylvania. Both victims were 22 and studying architecture.
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Kane County Circuit Judge John A. Barsanti handed down the sentence Monday after previously agreeing to a plea deal in which several other charges, including reckless homicide and aggravated street racing, were dismissed.
According to police and court records, Morris was racing against another driver, 23-year-old Kahleel L. Steele, on April 20, 2021, when he struck a car as it was turning left from southbound Route 31 onto Judson Drive, the road leading to the Judson campus.
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Colburn and Madison died after being ejected from the vehicle, reports said. Two other people in the car were injured but survived.
Police estimated Morris was traveling more than 35 mph over the posted 45-mph limit and driving without a valid license, a Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office news release said. Toxicology tests found he had more than 5 ng/ml of THC from cannabis consumption in his blood.
Steele, of Carpentersville, is awaiting trial on charges of reckless homicide, aggravated street racing, speeding 35 mph-plus over the limit and possession of 30 to 100 grams of marijuana.
A third man, 24-year-old Manny Pittenturf, of Carpentersville, was traveling behind the two racing cars and was charged with aggravated speeding and driving without a license.
Pittenturf’s whereabouts are currently unknown, the state’s attorney’s office release said. A warrant has been issued for his arrest and Elgin police are asking anyone with information on his location to call 847-289-2600.
Assistant State’s Attorney Katy Flannagan called the fatal crash “tragic” and “completely preventable.”
“(Morris) made a series of poor choices to speed, race his friends and drive under the influence of cannabis that has destroyed four families and taken the lives of two bright young men,” she said in the release.
Under state law, Morris must serve 85% of the prison term less the 470 days he served in the county jail or while under electronic home monitoring awaiting the case’s resolution.