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Motorcyclist's death ruled an accident
By Tona Kunz Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Thursday, July 15, 2004
A minivan in Barrington Hills crossed into oncoming traffic, nearly reaching the far white line.
In its path was James A. Klein, 47, of Des Plaines. His Harley-Davidson motorcycle struck the minivan head on at 50 mph, killing him instantly.
A Kane County coroner's jury Wednesday ruled Klein's death on that afternoon of June 5 an accident.
The stretch of Route 62 just west of Royal Way was dry and the double yellow no-passing lines were clearly visible in the sun, according to police.
The driver of the minivan, Yanning Mei, 46, of 2114 S. Princeton Ave. in Chicago, was given traffic tickets on charges of failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and driving in the wrong lane.
Reckless homicide wasn't considered as a charge because none of the witnesses could give an indication that the Algonquin restaurant owner showed "willful disregard" for the safety of others, Barrington Hills police Lt. Michael Murphy said.
Witnesses reported that the minivan wasn't speeding and wasn't in the wrong lane for long. Emergency room tests showed Mei had no drugs or alcohol in his system.
Speaking through a Chinese interpreter, Mei told police shortly after the crash that he didn't recall what had happened, Murphy told the coroner's jury.
The jury's decision was less than satisfying for the few family members that could bring themselves to sit through the grisly details of the crash.
They mourned the loss of a devoted son and loving uncle.
"It's terrible," said his stepmother, Justine Klein of Rolling Meadows. "This was a trauma to the whole family."
By Tona Kunz Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Thursday, July 15, 2004
A minivan in Barrington Hills crossed into oncoming traffic, nearly reaching the far white line.
In its path was James A. Klein, 47, of Des Plaines. His Harley-Davidson motorcycle struck the minivan head on at 50 mph, killing him instantly.
A Kane County coroner's jury Wednesday ruled Klein's death on that afternoon of June 5 an accident.
The stretch of Route 62 just west of Royal Way was dry and the double yellow no-passing lines were clearly visible in the sun, according to police.
The driver of the minivan, Yanning Mei, 46, of 2114 S. Princeton Ave. in Chicago, was given traffic tickets on charges of failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and driving in the wrong lane.
Reckless homicide wasn't considered as a charge because none of the witnesses could give an indication that the Algonquin restaurant owner showed "willful disregard" for the safety of others, Barrington Hills police Lt. Michael Murphy said.
Witnesses reported that the minivan wasn't speeding and wasn't in the wrong lane for long. Emergency room tests showed Mei had no drugs or alcohol in his system.
Speaking through a Chinese interpreter, Mei told police shortly after the crash that he didn't recall what had happened, Murphy told the coroner's jury.
The jury's decision was less than satisfying for the few family members that could bring themselves to sit through the grisly details of the crash.
They mourned the loss of a devoted son and loving uncle.
"It's terrible," said his stepmother, Justine Klein of Rolling Meadows. "This was a trauma to the whole family."
