A 42-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly running away after causing a head-on crash that left a woman critically injured and two others also injured in North Chicago.
The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. on December 24 at Jackson Street and 12th Street in North Chicago.
A Kia Sorento was traveling northbound on Jackson Street while a Honda was traveling southbound.
The driver of the Kia, identified as Jesus Reyes-Vera, 42, of North Chicago, traveled into the oncoming lane and struck the Honda head-on.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Francis DeRosa said the headlights for both of the cars went off.
Another vehicle traveling southbound struck the Honda because it was so dark.
Reyes-Vera got out of his car and ran away, DeRosa said. All three vehicles involved were totaled.
Officers arrived and reported that one of the injured victim’s skulls was broken and their brain was visible, DeRosa said.
Three people in the Honda suffered injuries and were transported to hospitals.
The female victim with the brain injury underwent surgery on a broken hip. She also had injuries to her nose, cheek and forehead.
The woman’s mother told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that her daughter remains hospitalized almost three weeks after the crash and will be transferred to a rehabilitation facility after she is released.
Officers found an insurance card in Reyes-Vera’s car and learned the vehicle was registered to him, DeRosa said.
Officers went to his home on two occasions and eventually on Monday were able to locate him.
Reyes-Vera admitted he did not call 911 or check on the victims in the crash before fleeing, DeRosa said.
The man claimed there was a patch of ice on the roadway that caused him to slide into the other lane, DeRosa said.
Reyes-Vera said that he fled because he got nervous. He does not have a valid driver’s license.
Reyes was charged with failure to report a crash with injury and driving while unlicensed.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Reyes held on a $350,000 bond.
A status of attorney hearing is scheduled for Friday.