Prosecutors have approved felony charges against a 27-year-old man who drove his car into a house in Crystal Lake, critically injuring himself and a resident who was inside the home.
The incident happened around 7:03 p.m. on July 27 in the 100 block of South Heather Drive in Crystal Lake.
Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Rick Neumann said officers received a report of a single vehicle that crashed into a residence, resulting in injuries.
A preliminary investigation revealed an SUV was traveling eastbound on Ballard Road.
The SUV, for unknown reasons, continued through the intersection of Briarwood Road and left the roadway, Neumann said.
The vehicle struck a detached garage and residence.
The adult male driver of the vehicle was trapped and had to be extricated from the vehicle by firefighters.
Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Thomas Kotlowski identified him earlier this month as Connor C. Kirkpatrick, 27, of Crystal Lake.
Neumann said Kirkpatrick was subsequently flown to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with life-threatening injuries.
Angelo Pleotis, 64, who lives at the involved residence, was also trapped and had to be freed from the wreckage.
Pleotis was in the shower when the vehicle hit his house. He was flown to Advocate Condell Medical Center.
Pleotis suffered collapsed lungs, broken ribs, head trauma, lacerations and two spinal fracture dislocations, which caused paralysis.
“I want to help give back to one of the kindest, most gentle hearted people I’ve ever met. Angelo was just months away from retirement where he was planning many outdoor adventures and travel. He was very active in my daughter’s (his granddaughters activities and life),” the man’s daughter-in-law, Alyssa Pleotis, said.
“He didn’t deserve any of this. He has had his entire life flipped upside down in the one place he should feel the safest – his own home,” she said.
A GoFundMe has raised over $92,000 for Pleotis.
A neighbor said that the scene was “absolutely horrific.”
Kotlowski said that Kirkpatrick had been unable to communicate with anyone due to his condition in the hospital.
“This leaves several questions regarding this crash unanswered for now,” Kotlowski said earlier this month.
Neumann said in an update Tuesday that the police department had reviewed the case with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.
An arrest warrant was issued for the man for aggravated reckless driving and reckless conduct, both Class 4 felonies, along with criminal damage to property over $100,000, a Class 2 felony.
Kirkpatrick remains hospitalized with “significant injuries” and the warrant will be served upon his release, Neumann said.
No further details were provided and court records were not available yet in the newly filed case.
The incident remains under investigation by the Crystal Lake Police Department Accident Investigation Team.
Anyone who may have information relating to the incident is asked to contact the Crystal Lake Police Department at 815-356-3620.
Anonymous tips can also be sent to the Crystal Lake Police Department by texting the word CLPDTIP along with the tip information to 847411.