Illinois Man Gets 12-Year Sentence For Fatal Huffing Crash

A north-central Illinois man was sentenced to 12 years in prison after Henry County prosecutors say he was huffing chemicals before a high-speed rollover crash that killed three teenagers.

Morgan Blakey was convicted of reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence for the November 2011 crash near Kewanee.

The (Peoria) Journal Star reported the Toulon (TOO’-lahn) man will have to serve at least 10 years behind bars.

Prosecutors say Blakey passed out before the crash after he inhaled chemicals from a compressed air canister, although his lawyers claimed he’d had a seizure.

The crash killed Levi Berg, 16, and Kelsey Clifford, 15, both of Toulon, along with Bradley Wood, 18, of Wyoming.

Henry County prosecutors had recommended a 20-year sentence, while Blakey’s lawyers asked for probation.