A lawsuit has been filed against the alleged hit-and-run driver who fatally ran over a Deerfield school board member while she was riding her bike in Highland Park.
Maureen Wener, 49, of Deerfield, was riding her bicycle around 12:37 p.m. on June 2 near Deerfield Road and Piccadilly Road in Highland Park.
Wener was struck by a vehicle and then ran over, leaving her with severe injuries.
The offending vehicle fled the scene prior to police arriving, according to Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering.
Wener was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville by ambulance.
She died from her injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital, Rotering said.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was called to assist the Highland Park Police Department.
Deerfield Road between Carriage Way and Ridge Road was shut down in both directions for several hours during the investigation.
Wener was the secretary of the Deerfield Public Schools District 109 Board of Education.
“The City extends its deepest condolences to the family of Maureen Wener and to her colleagues on the Deerfield Public Schools District109 Board of Education. Her commitment to the Deerfield and Highland Park communities through her work, public service, and volunteerism will be greatly missed,” the city said in a statement at the time of her death.
“Moe was active on the Deerfield Library and School Boards, loved local politics, her 5 PM Starbucks, sweets – especially chocolate, had a passion for biking,” her obituary said.
A wrongful death lawsuit was filed last week by Lewis Law Firm in Lake Forest on behalf of the woman’s husband, Paul Rundell.
The seven-page complaint alleges the driver of the vehicle, St. Charles resident Melanie A. Hass, made an illegal U-turn while driving a 2020 Jeep Wrangler and struck Wener.
Hass made the turn from Deerfield Road onto Piccadilly Road and back onto Deerfield Road to travel eastbound while returning to her workplace in Highland Park, the complaint said.
The suit said Hass was driving too fast for conditions, not paying attention to the roadway while distracted and did not keep a proper lookout for vehicles and pedestrians while making the U-turn.
Hass has not been charged criminally in the crash, court records show.
Attorney Brian Lewis told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that Wener’s family has been through a tragedy.
“This is compounded by the fact that the police have known the identity of the driver who hit and killed Maureen since the day of the collision, but no criminal charges have yet been brought,” Lewis said.
“For the last 5 ½ months, Maureen’s family has been very patient. They understand that the HP police and Lake County State’s Attorney are carefully doing their jobs. But the time for answers is now,” Lewis said.
The attorney said Wener’s death left a “very big, empty seat” at the family’s Thanksgiving dinner table.
“We hope the Lake County State’s Attorney will move forward against the defendant right away so Maureen’s family can get the justice, and closure, they deserve,” Lewis said.