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Friends, Family Seek Justice For Lake Zurich Native Killed In Calif. Crash

Darin Steffey
Darin Steffey (Supplied to CBS)
Darin Steffey Memorial
A memorial for Darin Steffey (Supplied to CBS)
Darin and Heather Steffey
Darin and Heather Steffey (Supplied to CBS)
Darin and Heather Steffey
Darin and Heather Steffey as children (Supplied to CBS)
Darin Steffey and Jessica Raddatz
Darin Steffey and his girlfriend, Jessica Raddatz (Supplied to CBS)
Darin Steffey and Jessica Raddatz
Darin Steffey and his girlfriend, Jessica Raddatz (Supplied to CBS)

(CBS) -- The family and friends of a Chicago area native plan to pack a California courtroom next week - to try to make sure that justice is done after his death at the age of 37.

WBBM's Steve Miller reports Darin Steffey grew up in Lake Zurich and went to high school in Palatine - before serving in the Air Force, and then as a U.S. Forest Service firefighter.

"Just the sweetest guy in the world. Even-tempered, and so nice, and always there for his sister; always there for whoever was around him," said his sister Heather.

Darin was killed three months ago near San Diego.

He was on his motorcycle - and a 21-year-old woman is accused of speeding and crossing the center line - hitting Steffey head-on.

"My concern, I was told by the DA, is that even if we get a conviction for the highest charge we're going after, she'll only serve 365 days in custody - maybe. That's because of overcrowding in southern California jails," Heather said. "I don't want vengeance. I just want something so she can think about what she did for a little while and gets going with her life, which is a young life - and my brother doesn't get to have his."

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