Charges have been filed against a driver accused of making an illegal U-turn and crashing into a motorcyclist, leaving him injured, before fleeing the scene on Route 176 in Lakewood.
Anthony M. Gapastione, 40, of Elgin, was charged with failure to report an injury crash, reckless driving, improper traffic lane usage and failure to change address as required.
The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District and Lakewood Police Department responded around 11:20 a.m. on September 13 to Route 176 and Dean Street for a vehicle crash with injuries.
First responders arrived to find a crash involving a motorcycle, which came to rest in a cornfield.
The male driver of the motorcycle suffered an injury to his arm.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said Gapastione was driving a black 2023 Ford F-150.
The complaint said Gapastione made a U-turn near the intersection directly into the path of an oncoming motorcycle, which caused the two-vehicle crash.
Gapastione failed to remain at the scene and drove his Ford recklessly while fleeing, the complaint said.
The complaint said Gapastione approached the north intersection of Route 176 and Route 47 while traveling eastbound on Route 176 and crossed over the double yellow lines.
The complaint said he nearly caused a collision with an oncoming vehicle and then failed to stop at the red light before making a left turn onto northbound Route 47.
Gapastione was arrested on Saturday after a warrant was issued for him on Friday.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Gapastione pending trial, calling him a real and present threat to the community as well as a willful flight risk.
McHenry County Judge Carl Metz denied the petition and released Gapastione from custody.
The judge ordered Gapastione to be placed on electronic monitoring with a curfew. He was also ordered not to operate a vehicle unless going to or from work.
A status of preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 22.