Charges have been filed against a man accused of driving drunk and causing a high-speed, multiple-vehicle crash that killed a woman and left five others, including a child, seriously injured in Wadsworth.
Andrew D. Willard, 58, of Addison, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence causing death, driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Newport Fire Protection District responded around 10:15 p.m. Saturday to the area of West Russell Road and Frontage Road in Wadsworth for a three-vehicle crash with injuries.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and found multiple people injured and three vehicles with major damage, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
A preliminary investigation shows a 2020 Porsche Macan, driven by Willard, was traveling westbound on Russell Road approaching the stop sign at Frontage Road.
A 2016 Chevrolet Volt, driven by a 35-year-old Niles man, was ahead of the Porsche.
Covelli said the Chevrolet was behind a 2020 Mercedes-Benz, driven by a 37-year-old Rolling Meadows woman.
The Chevrolet and Mercedes-Benz were both stopped at the stop sign at Frontage Road.
Willard failed to stop the Porsche and struck the rear of the Chevrolet at a high rate of speed.
The force of the crash pushed the Chevrolet into the Mercedes-Benz, Covelli said.
Bogdana Mygal, 33, of Des Plaines, who was a passenger in the Chevrolet, was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries and later pronounced dead in the emergency room.
An autopsy performed on Monday showed that Mygal died as a result of multiple blunt force injuries as a result of a vehicle, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The driver of the Chevrolet and another passenger, a 4-year-old Niles girl, were also transported to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Covelli said the driver of the Mercedes-Benz and a passenger, a 40-year-old Schaumburg man, were also transported to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Willard was transported to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Crash investigators said they determined that Willard was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Willard was believed to be more than twice the legal limit for alcohol, Covelli said.
Willard was released from the hospital on Monday afternoon and immediately taken into custody.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case before approving the felony charge against Willard. Additional charges are possible.
Willard was scheduled to appear in First Appearance Court on Tuesday and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office has filed a petition to detain him pending trial.