Illinois man sentenced to 40 years for murder in road rage incident

MOUNT VERNON, Ill., (KBSI) — Robert A. Lewis, 46, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for murder and six years for leaving the scene of an accident involving death. Lewis was convicted January 17, 2025, for the March 5, 2024, murder of Thomas Taylor.

Judge Jerry Crisel handed down the sentence, which officials hope will bring closure to Taylor’s family.

“While this sentence will never bring Thomas Taylor back, I hope it provides some closure to his family,” said a spokesperson. “We send our condolences to the family and hope they can start moving forward now that the case is complete.”

The case was a collaborative effort between patrol officers, detectives, the Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s Office and others.

Officials hope the sentence serves as a lesson for those involved in road rage incidents. “No driving issue or dispute is worth losing a life or going to prison over,” the spokesperson said.