Prosecutors said a Lake in the Hills man, who was under the influence, drove 124 mph seconds before a rollover crash that left his 19-year-old passenger dead near Huntley.
Anthony S. Curtin, 19, of Lake in the Hills, was charged with five counts of aggravated driving under the influence causing death, reckless homicide and speeding 35+ mph over the limit.
The Illinois State Police and Huntley Fire Protection District responded around 1:50 a.m. on September 3 to Interstate 90 westbound at the Route 47 exit in Huntley for a report of a vehicle crash.
District 15 troopers and firefighters arrived to find a vehicle in a ditch with heavy damage.
Illinois State Trooper Elizabeth Clausing told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the vehicle lost control while attempting to exit Interstate 90 for Route 47.
The vehicle rolled over several times. The passenger was ejected and sustained life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead, Clausing said.
The victim was later identified as Jacob J. Martinez, 19, of Lake in the Hills.
Paramedics transported Curtin, who was the driver, to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The charges against Curtin were filed early last week in Kane County Circuit Court.
He was taken into the custody of the Kane County Jail on Wednesday.
Court records show that Curtin was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time of the crash.
Assistant State’s Attorney Katy Flannagan said Curtin’s vehicle was traveling 124 mph five seconds before the impact of the crash, the Daily Herald reported.
A judge set Curtin’s bond at $150,000, meaning he would need to post $15,000 cash in order to be released.
An obituary for Martinez said he was an apprentice electrician and was a graduate of Jacobs High School in Algonquin.
“Jacob was known for his big heart, respectful manner, and contagious smile. He was known as a leader. Jacob’s family was a priority to him, if he wasn’t working towards his goal as an electrician, you’d see him with family,” his obituary said.