Rochelle teen pleads guilty to aggravated reckless driving, gets 60-day jail term for fatal 2023 crash

OREGON – A 19-year-old Rochelle man apologized Wednesday for the death of his 16-year-old passenger and friend who died from injuries suffered during a 2023 crash.

Alexander Burke, who was 17 when the crash occurred, pleaded guilty to aggravated reckless driving and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and 30 months probation when he appeared with his attorney, Ogle County Assistant Public Defender Michael O’Brien on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

Burke was charged in January 2024 in connection with a July 6, 2023, crash in which Troy Komadina, 16, later died from injuries he suffered when the vehicle Burke was driving crashed and overturned about 9:30 p.m. on Steward Road near the intersection with Ritchie Road, southeast of Rochelle.

According to court documents, Burke was driving at a high rate of speed when his vehicle left the road, traveled through a ditch and into a culvert causing “blunt force trauma” to Komadina that led to his death several days later.

Both teens were transported to area hospitals for their injuries, with Burke later released. Komadina, who was a student at Rochelle High School, died July 11, 2023.

On Wednesday, Assistant State’s Attorney Heather Kruse and O’Brien said a plea agreement had been reached for the Class 4 felony offense.

Kruse told Judge Anthony Peska that Burke had never been issued a driver’s license and was traveling at 77 mph in a 45 mph zone before his vehicle “hit the culvert, became airborne, and landed on its roof.”

She said Burke had no prior criminal history and that prosecutors had been in contact with Komadina’s parents regarding the plea agreement.

“At the time of the offense he [Burke] was 17 years old,” said O’Brien. “This was his friend.”

O’Brien said the youthful “joy ride” was not an excuse for the offense.

“This was a friend of yours. So you are suffering too,” Peska asked.

“Yes sir,” Burke replied.

When asked by Peska if he had anything he wanted to say before being sentenced, Burke said he deeply regretted the crash.

“I would like to apologize to the family,” Burke said quietly to Peska.

“This was youth and just foolishness,” Peska told Burke. “You have apologized to the family for their loss. And you have to live with this for the rest of your life. I wish you luck.”

Burke is scheduled to report to the Ogle County Jail on Sunday, Feb. 2, to begin serving his jail term. He also was ordered to pay $1,589 in fines and court costs, undergo an assessment and adhere to all conditions required by the probation department.