The wife of an Algonquin man, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2019 in Crystal Lake while riding on his motorcycle, has sued the bar that allegedly served the drunk driver.
Deborah Klinger, of Algonquin, filed a lawsuit against Coleman’s Crystal Lake Bar, which is located at Virginia Road and Berkshire Drive in Crystal Lake, according to court documents.
Klinger’s lawsuit is ongoing in McHenry County court and alleges that the bar violated the Illinois Liquor Control Act by overserving Carolyn A. Tyrrell, 54, of the 900 block of Wesley Drive in Crystal Lake.
Klinger’s lawyer, Andrew Long, told the Northwest Herald that he can easily prove Tyrrell was intoxicated but he has to prove that she became intoxicated or was intoxicated when she left the establishment.
The suit is seeking over $50,000 in damages along with the cost of the lawsuit.
Deborah Klinger’s husband, George Klinger, 53, of Algonquin, was driving his motorcycle southbound on Virginia Road near Berkshire Drive in Crystal Lake around 7:35 p.m. September 10, 2019.
A red sedan, driven by Tyrrell, struck the motorcycle in the intersection. Deborah was riding as a passenger when the couple was ejected from the motorcycle onto the roadway.
The red sedan driven by Tyrrell fled the scene heading westbound on Berkshire Drive, police said.
A U.S. Marine that was driving by and saw the crash began performing CPR on George Klinger before paramedics arrived.
He was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died, police said.
A Flight For Life medical helicopter was called and transported Deborah Klinger to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with serious injuries.
The lawsuit said that Deborah is disabled and prevented from attending to her life’s normal affairs. She has also incurred substantial costs for medical care and has lost wages.
Police investigators located the red sedan’s bumper nearby the crash scene and found the vehicle parked at Tyrrell’s residence in the 900 block of Wesley Drive in Crystal Lake a short time later.
Tyrrell was indicted on one count of leaving the scene of an accident causing death, one count of leaving the scene of an accident causing personal injury and four counts of aggravated driving under the influence.
She entered a blind plea agreement on March 9 and pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated driving under the influence causing an accident involving death, a Class 2 felony.
As a result, prosecutors dismissed her five other charges, including two that are more serious Class 1 felony charges.
McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt revoked Tyrrell’s bond and ordered her held in the McHenry County Jail while she awaits sentencing.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 13. The woman faces three to 14 years in prison.