A judge granted pre-trial release to a Huntley man accused of driving under the influence in a crash that left a 76-year-old man, who was a father of three, dead in Lake in the Hills.
The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District and Lake in the Hills Police Department responded around 5:04 p.m. on July 13 to the area of Pyott Road and East Oak Street in Lake in the Hills for a vehicle crash with injuries.
Firefighters arrived and reported finding two vehicles involved with very heavy damage.
Lake in the Hills Police Department Public Information Officer Amanda Schmitt said a black 2012 Nissan Juke and a black 2007 Volkswagen Jetta collided south of the intersection.
The Nissan had been traveling southbound on Pyott Road and the Volkswagen had been traveling northbound on Pyott Road prior to the collision, Schmitt said.
Firefighters reported finding two people trapped in the wreckage.
The adult male passenger of the Volkswagen, later identified as Zdzislaw Klimentowski, 76, of Chicago, was pronounced dead at the scene, Schmitt said.
An autopsy performed showed Klimentowski died as a result of blunt trauma to various structures and organs, according to McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein.
The driver and sole occupant of the Nissan was transported to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry.
The driver of the Volkswagen, Jakub Kakietek, 40, of Huntley, was transported to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Huntley.
Schmitt said Kakietek was later arrested initially for driving under the influence of alcohol, a Class A misdemeanor, and issued an additional citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.
The Nissan driver, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, was later released from the hospital.
The Major Case Assistance Team (MCAT) responded to assist officers at the crash site, Schmitt said.
An obituary for Klimentowski said he leaves behind a wife and three children.
“Zdzislaw will be missed by all who knew him. His love of traveling, history, telling stories, and his deep faith will be remembered,” the obituary said.
Felony charges were filed against Kakietek last week, court records show.
Kakietek was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence causing a crash involving death and two counts of aggravated driving under the influence third offense.
Court documents said Kakietek previously had two driving under the influence violations on his record with this incident being his third offense.
Court documents also said Kakietek’s driving under the influence was a proximate cause of the victim’s death in the crash.
Kakietek was taken into custody by police on Wednesday and transported to the McHenry County Jail.
Prosecutors filed a petition to detain him pending trial, calling him a real and present threat to the community.
Kakietek was released from custody after a detention hearing where McHenry County Judge Carl Metz denied prosecutors’ petition to detain.
A status of preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 20.