PEORIA, Ill. – An 18-year-old has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a deadly crash that killed a 25-year-old East Peoria motorcyclist in 2025.
Cedric D. Kennedy was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to Aggravated DUI in the death of Ian Harvey, according to the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s office. The 12-year sentence was two years less than the maximum possible, agreed upon in exchange for Kennedy’s guilty plea and to provide closure to the Harvey family.
On March 22, 2025, Kennedy was driving a Cadillac Escalade when he ran a stop sign and pulled out in front of Harvey’s motorcycle. A vehicle traveling behind Harvey did not have time to stop and struck him. Harvey was killed instantly.
Kennedy later admitted to smoking cannabis before the crash. A blood test taken at a local hospital revealed he had four times the legal limit of cannabis in his system.
Harvey’s loved ones addressed the court during the sentencing hearing, describing Ian as the youngest in the family — kind, gentle and caring, someone who made friends everywhere he went.
Harvey’s sister told the court, “Cedric didn’t just steal a car; he stole a life.”
His mother said she now lives in constant fear for her loved ones and can no longer look at a motorcycle without breaking down or feel comfortable riding in a car.
Another sister told Kennedy directly, “You have given our family a life sentence of heartache.”
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