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Family Members Of Mount Prospect Crash Victims Speak Out At Sentencing


One car is seen flipped over and another heavily damaged following the car crash on Rand Road near Central Road in Mount Prospect. (Photo submitted by Jim Brookman)

Emotions ran in a Rolling Meadows courtroom Friday as victim impact statements were read prior to the sentencing of a Des Plaines man.

Twenty-seven-year-old Garrett Kowalski of Des Plaines was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the March 2021 crash that killed three other Des Plaines residents who had just left from shopping at Mount Prospect Plaza prior to church. 

Kowalski in early January pled guilty to three counts of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs after he crashed his Ford SUV into a Honda sedan carrying Francisco Flores Rodriguez, Georgina Perez Gomez and Francisco Javier Flores Perez at the intersection of Mount Prospect and Rand roads shortly before 8 a.m. March 7, 2021.

Police said Kowalski was under the influence of ketamine (an anesthetic drug) when he struck the sedan at approximately between 104-107 mph as the victims were entering the intersection southbound on a green light.

Garrett M. Kowalski of Des Plaines

Several family members spoke during the victim impact statement portion of the sentencing. 

Maria Flores, whose parents and brother died in the crash, stated the day of the crash was one of the worst days of her life.

“Life has not been easy on me since my parents and brother died in the car crash that you (Kowalski) caused that morning,” she said. “Everyday of my life, it seems like the crash happened yesterday. My tears are endless and the emptiness that has left will never be fulfilled.”

She told the story about how her brother was a cancer survivor and her parents and brother went to Walmart that morning to do their shopping prior to attending a church service. 

“You (Kowalski) killed them and your bad choices and actions have consequences,” she added. “You killed innocent people and all because of bad choices. Your lifestyle makes my whole family grieve and this pain will last a lifetime. I pray you never drive under the influence again and put another family through this everlasting hell.”

Other family members spoke as well citing many of the same sentiments, some hoping for a longer sentence. 

Kowalski spoke to the family stating he has grief and remorse and thinks everyday about his actions. 

“There is nothing I can say to make the situation right or to bring them back,” Kowalski said. “I chose to live recklessly and selfishly and I can’t ask for forgiveness, but I hope you find closure and peace and better days.”

Kowalski added he does not know why he got into his car that day and drove while under the influence. He said he had nowhere to go and doesn’t remember anything about the crash. He said he woke up the following day in the hospital when police and doctors informed him he had killed three people. 

“I have no excuses for what I did and I take full responsibility,” he said. 

Judge Marc Martin applauded those who spoke and submitted statements to the court and agreed that 16 years was not enough, but since an agreement had already been reached with both attorneys on each side of the case, he had to abide by that decision. 

Due to time already spent in jail, Kowalski will wind up spending a little more than 13-1/2 years in the Illinois Dept. of Corrections.

 

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