Frank Callahan
GENEVA - A St. Charles man accused of causing a fatal Christmas Day traffic accident will be tried a second time.
Whether he shows up or not.
David K. Vandeveire, 35, of 3N252 Happy Hills Road, was tried in absentia last week in Kane County Circuit Court on a charge of reckless homicide.
The three-day trial ended in a hung jury. Jurors deliberated for about six hours before reporting they were unable to agree on a verdict, said First Assistant States Attorney John Barsanti.
Vandeveire, free on $50,000 bond, failed to attend the trial. His whereabouts are unknown.
Barsanti said he last saw the defendant in June. Defense attorney David Camic declined to comment on when he last saw or heard from Vandeveire.
A new trial for Vandeveire has been scheduled for Oct. 9. He is also charged with drunken driving, leaving the scene of a fatal accident and disobeying a stop sign.
The charges stem from a Dec. 25 accident that killed Helen Hoff, 75, of 200 N. Second St., St. Charles.
According to St. Charles police, a car driven by Vandeveire ran through a stop sign and struck the car in which Hoff was a passenger. The crash occurred at Third and Indiana streets.
But, in cross-examining police witnesses during the trial, the defense threw doubt on whether Vandeveire was the actual driver of the car, Camic said.
"We are preparing to defend him again, hopefully with a better result for the defendant," Camic said.
