Crime & Safety

Family Files Suit in Fatal Plainfield Crash

The family of George Weikum, 58, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against David Dietrich of Shorewood. Dietrich was charged with DUI following the 2011 crash.

The wife and daughter of a Naperville motorcyclist who died in an October 2011 crash are seeking more than $50,000 in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the Shorewood man accused of causing his death while driving drunk, according to The Herald News.

George Weikum, 58, died in a rollover accident on Route 59 between 135th and 143rd streets. Police said David C. Dietrich, 33, of Shorewood, lost control, hit the center median and crossed over into oncoming traffic, striking Weikum's Harley-Davidson. 

READ: MAN DEAD FOLLOWING ROUTE 59 CRASH

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Weikum, owner of G & C Landscape & Building Inc. in Plainfield, was pronounced dead at the scene.

After being treated for injuries at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, Dietrich was arrested charged with aggravated DUI, improper lane use, driving too fast for conditions and operating an uninsured vehicle. 

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On Thursday, Weikum's widow, Collette Weikum, and his daughter filed suit against Dietrich, according to the Herald News report. The suit, which seeks $50,000 on each count plus legal fees, accuses Dietrich of getting drunk during a golf outing for Victory Baseball 9U Victory Gold, then getting behind the wheel of his 2005 Ford Ranger pickup truck.

Both Tamarack and Victory Baseball are also named as defendants in the case.

On Friday — nearly a year after the fatal crash — Dietrich remained at the Will County jail, where he is being held on $250,000 bond, according to jail records.


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