An Illinois woman has been charged in connection with a motorcycle crash that killed her passenger.

Shellie Lynn Barnes, 53, of Crete, Ill., faces two to 12 years if convicted of the most serious of nine charges filed against her in Lake Superior Court. The charges are in connection with the crash that killed James Kascher, 73, of Crete.

At 9:54 p.m. May 6, Barnes was driving a three-wheeled motorcycle with a group of riders in the area of 181st Avenue (Indiana 2). As Barnes drove west on 181st Avenue at Wicker Boulevard near Lowell, she crossed the center line, struck a guard rail and both she and Kascher were thrown about 50 feet, according to the probable cause affidavit. Neither rider was wearing a helmet, documents said. Both Barnes and Kascher suffered serious head and other injuries.

A witness told police the group of motorcycle riders had traveled to a number of local bars on the day of the ride, court documents said. At 9:30 p.m. the group had left the Bugaboo Bar and Grill in Cedar Lake and headed south and then west on Indiana, documents said. A rider traveling in front of Barnes and Kascher noticed after passing under the viaduct on Indiana 2, west of Lowell, he didn't see Barnes' headlight in his rear-view mirror, but didn't think anything of it because Barnes had been falling behind during the afternoon ride and would speed to catch up, court records state.

Barnes was transferred from Franciscan Health Crown Point to an Illinois medical facility for further treatment, documents said.

Kascher died May 12 of multiple blunt force trauma to his head, chest, abdomen and extremities.

Barnes was charged with causing death when operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent of .15 or higher, a level 4 felony; causing death when operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent of .08 or higher, a level 5 felony; causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, a level 5 felony; causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a level 6 felony; causing serious bodily injury when operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent of .08 or higher, a level 6 felony; and four misdemeanors that are lesser included offenses, court documents said.

Ruth Ann Krause is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.