A Chicago man charged with first-degree murder was trying to harm himself when he intentionally drove into the opposite lanes of traffic and struck a van, killing the driver and seriously injuring the passenger last month near Hebron, prosecutors said.
William P. Bishop, 42, of Chicago, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated battery, reckless homicide, aggravated reckless driving and two counts of aggravated driving under the influence.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and the Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection District responded around 2:29 p.m. May 18 to the 11500 block of Vanderkarr Road in unincorporated Hebron for a two-vehicle crash with injuries.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and found a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee and a 2003 Chevrolet 3500 cargo van that crashed on Vanderkarr Road west of Kemman Road.
McHenry County Sheriff Sgt. Aimee Knop said that an investigation indicated the Jeep, driven by Bishop, was traveling westbound on Vanderkarr Road.
The Jeep crossed into the eastbound lane of traffic onto the eastbound shoulder where it struck the front of the eastbound Chevrolet.
The Chevrolet rolled over and the driver, Jason Miller, 41, of McHenry, was pronounced dead at the scene, the McHenry County Coroner’s Office said. The passenger, a 56-year-old McHenry man, was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Accident Investigation Unit and Criminal Investigation Division discovered that Bishop intentionally drove his vehicle into the Chevrolet.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said that prosecutors believe Bishop was trying to harm himself.
A criminal complaint filed in court stated that Bishop knew the crash was likely to cause serious injuries or death. Bishop did not know the victims of the vehicle he struck.
Bishop was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with serious injuries. Drivers of both vehicles were wearing their seatbelts but the passenger of the Chevrolet was not wearing his, Knop said.
Police arrested Bishop on Monday and released from the McHenry County Jail after posting 10% of his $1 million bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 23.