A McHenry County judge has pleaded guilty to a lesser offense after he was clocked driving his motorcycle at 93 mph before being ejected in a crash when a sheriff’s deputy tried to stop him.
The incident happened around 10:10 a.m. on June 9 near Route 47 and Vanderkarr Road in unincorporated Hebron.
A McHenry County sheriff’s deputy on patrol clocked a motorcycle traveling at 93 mph, more than 35 miles per hour over the posted 55 mph speed limit, court records show.
A crash report obtained by Lake and McHenry County Scanner showed the sheriff’s deputy was attempting to pull over the 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle on northbound Route 47 south of Vanderkarr Road.
The report said the driver of the Harley Davidson attempted to slow down to stop while on the curve northbound Route 47 at Vanderkarr Road.
The driver locked up the rear brakes, went off the roadway north of the intersection on the east side and the motorcycle rolled onto its side, the report said.
The driver was identified as Jeffrey L. Hirsch, 55, of Woodstock, court records show.
Hirsch is a McHenry County associate judge who was appointed to the position in October 2015.
The report said Hirsch was ejected from the motorcycle in the crash.
The sheriff’s deputy reported that Hirsch was complaining of left-side pain and requested the fire department to the scene.
Hirsch, who was conscious and breathing, was transported by ambulance to Mercyhealth Hospital in Harvard with non-life-threatening injuries.
Northbound Route 47 was temporarily shut down until a tow truck could remove the motorcycle from the scene. The vehicle had sustained disabling damage, the report said.
Hirsch was charged with one count of speeding over 35 mph over the limit, a Class A misdemeanor.
Hirsch told deputies he was unable to maintain being on the roadway when he attempted to slow down, at which time he crashed, according to the report.
The Illinois Supreme Court, following a request from McHenry County Chief Judge Michael Chmiel, ordered that another judge from the Kane County Circuit Court be appointed to the McHenry County case.
Kane County Judge Julio Valdez was appointed to the case.
Hirsch’s attorney, George Kililis, told Lake and McHenry County Scanner his client appeared in court Tuesday and entered into a negotiated plea.
Hirsch pleaded guilty to a reduced speeding offense, which is a petty offense instead of the original misdemeanor he faced.
In exchange, Hirsch will pay a $75 fine and be on court supervision for 100 days. He was also ordered to complete 40 hours of public service, which he has already completed.
“Judge Hirsch remains devoted to upholding the rule of law and applying it equally to everyone. He cooperated with an impartial legal process and accepted responsibility for his conduct and a fair outcome that included a fine and volunteer public service,” Kililis said.
Kililis also said that Hirsch “greatly appreciates the proficient assistance” from the sheriff’s deputies and first responders.
“This incident is a reminder that speeding poses a risk to public safety and is often a factor in motor vehicle accidents,” Kililis said.