Jan. 05--An Aurora man was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to having drugs in his system when he struck and killed a Naperville bicyclist in 2013 while driving his pickup truck.
In a negotiated plea with DuPage County prosecutors, Joshua R. Spuhler, 38, admitted guilt to one count of aggravated driving under the influence in connection to the accident in which Shwuwei Yeh was killed.
The accident happened Sept. 25, 2013, at the intersection of Diehl Road and Freedom Drive in Naperville. Yeh, 56, was attempting to cross Diehl Road on her bicycle when she was struck by Spuhler, who was driving east in his pickup truck, police said.
The cyclist was transported to Edward Hospital in serious condition and later died from her injuries.
Spuhler was charged about three months later, when police received the results of a blood test taken after the accident that showed the presence of a controlled substance, authorities said.
According to sentencing documents, Spuhler was ordered to serve 85 percent of his 2 1/2-year prison term and was given credit for nine months he spent in the DuPage County jail in 2014 before posting bond.
He was also placed on a year of parole and was assessed fines and costs of about $2,000, according to court files.
Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.
