A 27-year-old man has been released from the hospital and surrendered on a warrant after driving his car into a Crystal Lake home in July, leaving a 64-year-old man critically injured.
The crash 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 at the time that 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 the driver 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 after the incident.
“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 neighbor said that the scene was “absolutely horrific.” A GoFundMe raised almost $100,000 for Pleotis.
Neumann said in August that the police department had reviewed the case with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.
An arrest warrant was issued for Kirkpatrick for aggravated reckless driving and reckless conduct, both Class 4 felonies, along with criminal damage to property over $100,000, a Class 2 felony.
Pleotis was transferred out of the hospital to a rehab center but recently was transferred back to the hospital, his daughter said.
Kirkpatrick, who also has been hospitalized since the crash, was recently released from the hospital and on Tuesday surrendered to the Crystal Lake Police Department on his warrant.
Kirkpatrick is scheduled to appear in court early next week. Bond information for Kirkpatrick was not immediately available.