
Charges have been filed against a driver accused of speeding and being on his cell phone when he slammed into a broken-down car, killing a former Vernon Hills man in November.
Julian Ramirez, 30, of Chicago, was charged with reckless homicide and aggravated use of an electronic communication device.
The charges stem from a fatal crash that occurred around 9:30 a.m. on November 6 in the area of Lake Cook Road and Milwaukee Avenue on the border of Wheeling and Buffalo Grove.
Wheeling Deputy Police Chief Michael Conway said the crash occurred in the eastbound lanes of Lake Cook Road west of Milwaukee Avenue.
A 49-year-old Vernon Hills man was driving a 2008 Smart Fortwo, Conway said.
The Smart Fortwo was stopped in the eastbound middle lane after it became disabled, Conway said.
A 2022 Audi Q5, driven by Ramirez, was also traveling eastbound on Lake Cook Road and struck the Smart Fortwo.
Conway said the driver of the Smart Fortwo was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with critical injuries.
Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton said the man died in the intensive care unit on November 9.
Newton identified the 49-year-old victim as Michael Szpisjak. While police said Szpisjak was a Vernon Hills resident, Newton said Szpisjak had recently moved to Northbrook.
The Wheeling Police Department Traffic Unit and the Major Case Assistance Team – Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) were called to the scene.
Eastbound Lake Cook Road was shut down for 15-20 minutes until one lane was able to be reopened, Conway said.
Newton said a preliminary coroner’s investigation indicated Szpisjak died from blunt force injuries in the crash. No autopsy was performed.
The Wheeling Police Department and the Major Case Assistance Team STAR Unit conducted an investigation into the crash.
Police announced the charges against Ramirez on Wednesday.
Wheeling Deputy Police Chief Al Steffen said investigators learned Ramirez was traveling at 59 mph in a 45 mph zone when he rear-ended Szpisjak’s vehicle.
Investigators also learned Ramirez was using his cell phone at the time of the crash, Steffen said.
Evidence from the event data recorder in Ramirez’s vehicle showed no signs of braking or speed reduction prior to the crash.
Ramirez appeared in the Cook County Courthouse in Rolling Meadows on Wednesday before Cook County Judge Ellen B. Mandeltort.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Ramirez pending trial but the judge denied the petition and released Ramirez.
Ramirez was ordered to be on home confinement, surrender his passport and not leave the state without court permission.
Ramirez is scheduled to appear in court again on February 14 for a status hearing.