A DuPage County judge on Monday sentenced 34-year-old Joshua Crye to nine years in prison for a 2023 drunk-driving crash on Eola Road in Aurora that killed 48-year-old teacher Nicole Dickerson, prosecutors said.
Crash and charges
According to FOX 32 Chicago, Crye entered a blind guilty plea on Aug. 5, 2025, to one count of aggravated DUI causing death, a Class 2 felony. The plea set the stage for Monday’s sentencing, which resulted in a nine-year prison term.
The collision happened around 8:52 p.m. on April 6, 2023. Authorities say Crye was driving a Ford Escape south on Eola Road when he crossed a raised center median and slammed into a northbound vehicle driven by Dickerson, triggering a three-vehicle crash. Investigators estimated Crye’s speed at roughly 85 mph and later determined his blood-alcohol concentration was 0.183, more than twice the legal limit, according to NCTV17.
A judge previously set Crye’s bond at 2 million dollars, with 10 percent to apply, and prosecutors said he was taken into custody in June 2023.
Remembering the victim
Dickerson, 48, was a fourth-grade teacher at Welch Elementary School in Naperville and died on April 10, 2023 from her injuries, according to an obituary published by The News‑Gazette. The obituary notes that she left behind a husband and two children and had taught in District 204 for decades.
Prosecutors’ remarks and sentence details
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin called the deadly crash entirely preventable. In a statement to FOX 32 Chicago, Berlin said, “DUI crashes are not accidents and are 100% avoidable.”
Prosecutors said Crye will likely have to serve at least 85 percent of his nine-year sentence before he can be considered for parole.
Next steps
Crye has remained in DuPage County custody since June 12, 2023, according to NCTV17. Unless his defense team files post-sentencing motions or an appeal, the sentence will move forward in the state correctional system and the county’s criminal case file will reflect the final disposition.
