A 40-year-old man was charged Monday with driving under the influence of drugs when he swerved off the road and struck and killed a man who was walking in Ingleside last summer, police said.
The incident happened around 6:40 p.m. on June 3 near Route 59 and Stanton Point Road in Ingleside.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and located a black Chrysler 300 that had struck and critically injured Michael Brennan, 53, of Ingleside, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
An investigation showed the Chrysler, driven by Brian J. King, 40, of the 35500 block of Tami Lane in Ingleside, was traveling northbound on Route 59.
A witness called 911 after noticing King’s vehicle swerving off the roadway while driving.
As King approached Stanton Point Road, he continued swerving out of his lane of traffic and struck Brennan, who was walking on grass and gravel next to the shoulder, Covelli said.
Brennan was walking on the south shoulder of Route 59, Covelli said, adding that there are no sidewalks in the area.
Brennan sustained major injuries and was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in critical condition. He died 13 days later on June 16.
An investigation into the case was recently concluded. “The investigation included a detailed examination and analysis of the scene, interviews with witnesses, vehicle inspections, reviewing materials obtained via subpoena, and more,” Covelli said on Tuesday.
King, who was uninjured in the incident, was found to have numerous drugs in his system at the time of the crash, Covelli said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and on Monday approved charges of aggravated driving while under the influence of drugs, aggravated driving under the influence causing death and reckless homicide.
“This was a completely preventable tragedy which took the life of an innocent person, because someone made the careless and selfish decision to drive impaired,” Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said.
“I am proud of the tenacious effort put in by our traffic crash investigators to bring charges against the offender. I am also thankful for the witness who not only called 911, but stayed at the scene to provide a statement to traffic crash investigators. I hope this conclusion brings the first steps of closure to the Brennan family,” Idleburg said.
An arrest warrant was issued on Monday and a Lake County judge set bond at $500,000.
King was arrested without incident at his residence, the sheriff’s office said. He is scheduled to appear again on May 2.