A Wisconsin woman is facing felony charges after she allegedly caused a head-on crash that left a woman dead on Route 31 in Ringwood in August.
Alyssa M. Popp, 30, of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence of drugs causing death, a Class 2 felony, driving while under the influence of drugs, a Class A misdemeanor, and improper lane usage.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and McHenry Township Fire Protection District responded around 10:24 a.m. on August 7 to the area of Greenway Storage and Rental, 4408 North Route 31 in Ringwood, for a report of a vehicle crash.
McHenry County Sheriff Sgt. Aimee Knop said at the time that two vehicles, a black 2021 GMC Acadia and a white 2015 Acura TLX, were involved in the collision.
An investigation showed the GMC, driven by Popp, was traveling northbound on Route 31.
The GMC crossed into the southbound lane of traffic and struck the Acura head-on as it was traveling southbound.
Firefighters found the driver of the Acura, Christina Smith, 56, of Elmhurst, trapped inside the vehicle.
Paramedics pronounced Smith deceased at the scene, Knop said.
Popp was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry with serious injuries.
A Lifestar medical helicopter landed at the hospital and transferred Popp to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville for additional treatment.
On Monday, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office announced that Popp had been charged and arrested on Saturday.
Court documents show the woman had been driving while under the influence of cannabis and prescription drugs.
A McHenry County judge set Popp’s bond at $150,000. The woman was released from the McHenry County Jail after posting 10% of her bond, the sheriff’s office said.