A judge denied pre-trial release to a Cary man who prosecutors say was drinking before he crashed head-on into another car in Barrington while speeding and failing to brake, killing an off-duty police officer.
Barrington Police Chief David Daigle said a 2020 Kia Forte, driven by Christopher Lopez, 23, of Cary, was traveling northbound on Northwest Highway south of Main Street around 4:09 a.m. Sunday.
Prosecutors said the Kia was in the far right northbound lane near the Metra access.
The Kia failed to maintain its lane of travel and crossed multiple lanes of traffic, veering into the southbound lanes of Northwest Highway, prosecutors said.
Lopez’s vehicle struck a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta, driven by Robert Fryc, 43, of Cary, as it was traveling southeast.
A 911 caller reported one person was possibly unresponsive and not breathing following the two-vehicle crash.
Firefighters arrived and extricated one of the victims from the wreckage, according to fire department radio traffic.
Fryc was transported to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington where he was later pronounced dead, Daigle said.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was requested to assist in the investigation.
Daigle said Lopez was arrested following the crash for suspicion of driving under the influence.
Prosecutors said Lopez made admissions to consuming alcohol prior to driving and he showed clues of impairment. Video showed him leaving a banquet hall prior to the crash.
Investigators recovered the event data recorder from Lopez’s vehicle which showed he did not brake and was traveling in excess of the posted speed limit when he collided with Fryc’s vehicle, prosecutors said.
He was transported to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital for further driving under the influence testing.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved one count of reckless homicide, a Class 3 felony, against Lopez.
The state’s attorney’s office filed a petition to detain Lopez pending trial, arguing he poses a real and present danger to the community, court records show.
Lopez appeared at the Cook County Third Municipal District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows for a detention hearing on Tuesday.
Cook County Judge Andreana A. Turano granted the petition and remanded Lopez to the Cook County Jail.
The judge said that Lopez placed community members at risk when he drank, sped and drove recklessly.
Turano also said conditions of release, such as electronic home monitoring or GPS monitoring, would be inadequate in preventing Lopez from consuming alcohol, getting behind the wheel of a car and injuring or killing others.
Lopez has prior violations for speeding and failure to obey a traffic control device, court documents said.
The Glenview Police Department said Fryc was an officer with their department. He was on his way to work when the crash occurred.
The Glenview Police Department said on Sunday they had sent home many of the dayshift officers who worked with Fryc and coverage of the shift was being assisted by Cook County and neighboring communities.
Fryc had been with the Glenview Police Department since 2007.
He was recently recognized at the village’s February 4 Board of Trustees meeting for being one of the first responders who helped save the life of a fellow officer last summer.
“Officer Fryc was more than just a colleague,” said Glenview Police Chief William Fitzpatrick.
“He was a part of our family and a part of this community. Our hearts are broken by his passing, and our priority now is to support his loved ones and our department as we grieve this unimaginable loss together,” Fitzpatrick said.
Glenview Village President Michael Jenny said the village is devastated by the tragic loss of Fryc, who just two weeks ago was “recognized for his service and dedication to Glenview.”
“On behalf of the entire Village, I extend our deepest condolences to Officer Fryc’s family, friends and fellow officers. When the time is right, we will come together as a community to honor and remember his service,” Jenny said.
The Village of Glenview and the Glenview Police Department said they ask for privacy and respect for Fryc’s family and colleagues as they mourn and navigate “this tremendous loss.”
The Lake County Coroner’s Office told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that Fryc was pronounced dead in Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital’s emergency room and an autopsy was performed on him on Tuesday morning.
A visitation will be held for Fryc from 3-8 p.m. Thursday at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 North Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights.
Funeral services will be held beginning with a prayer at Glueckert Funeral Home at 9 a.m. Friday.
A procession will follow the prayer to Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church, 434 West Park Street in Arlington Heights, for a mass at 10 a.m.
When the mass concludes, there will be a procession to St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Cemetery, 1185 West Algonquin Road in Palatine, where Fryc will be laid to rest.
Lopez is scheduled to appear again at the Cook County Third Municipal District Courthouse for a status hearing on March 14.