A Wauconda man was hurled 40 feet into the air when he was run down from behind by a drunk McHenry woman driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least .24 after consuming at least a dozen alcoholic beverages at two different bars, prosecutors said.
In addition, Christine S. Eilers, 51, of McHenry, attempted to file a false insurance claim for the damage to her vehicle after she ran over 24-year-old Austin Stanek, authorities said.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese released additional details on Friday regarding the sentencing of Eilers by McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis in McHenry County court on Thursday.
Eilers was sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty in January to aggravated DUI resulting in death and failing to report an accident resulting in death for her role in the death of Stanek.
Eilers was sentenced to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on charges of failure to report an accident involving death, and another 7 years in prison for aggravated DUI resulting in death, court records show.
Davis ordered that Eilers serve the prison sentences consecutively, meaning Eilers was sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison.
Freese said Eilers was driving her Nissan Murano northbound on Roberts Road in Island Lake on Sept. 27, 2024, while Stanek and three friends were walking northbound on the same roadway.
Freese said Eilers struck the victim from behind, sending him over forty feet in the air and into a grassy easement alongside the road.
Eilers took off from the scene of the crash, Freese said.
His friends called 911, while others attempted life-saving measures, Freese said.
McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Wauconda Fire Protection District responded to the 4300 block of Roberts Road after 911 callers reported Stanek had been struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.
Stanek was not conscious or breathing, and CPR was started on him by bystanders when they arrived on the scene, police said.
Freese said Stanek suffered multiple skull fractures during the crash.
Stanek was taken from the scene and died at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington.
Roberts Road was shut down for several hours while investigators worked at the scene and the sheriff’s office said debris from the Nissan’s front and right side was located and collected as evidence.
Freese said Eilers failed to stop her vehicle at the scene of the crash and, instead, drove to a friend’s home in Lakemoor.
Eilers attempted to conceal the damaged vehicle in her friend’s garage, Freese said, and even placed a tarp over it.
Eilers also tried to file a false insurance claim the next day, alleging she struck a construction barrel in Rockford, Freese said.
Freese said, despite Eilers’ efforts to conceal the vehicle, the car was eventually located by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office at the Lakemoor residence.
An inspection and search of the vehicle revealed heavy front-end damage, Freese said, including a starred windshield and dented front hood.
Investigators also obtained GPS data from the car’s Infotainment system showing that Eilers had been drinking at two local area bars before striking and killing Stanek, Freese said.
Surveillance video obtained by investigators also showed Eilers consumed at least 12 alcoholic beverages, including several alcoholic seltzers and tequila shots at two bars prior to the crash.
At the time Eilers got behind the wheel, her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was between .24 and .37, Freese said.
Eilers pleaded guilty in January to Leaving the Scene of an Accident-Causing Death and Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol-Causing Death.
Eilers is required to serve a minimum of 50% of her 7-year prison sentence for leaving the scene of the accident resulting in death, and 85% of her 7-year prison sentence for Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Freese said.
Freese said Eilers will also be placed on mandatory supervised release for a period of two years following her release from prison.
Charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving death and a second charge of aggravated DUI were dropped as part of the negotiated plea.
An obituary for Stanek, who was a 2018 Wauconda High School graduate, said he died just days before his October 4 birthday.
“Athletic to his core, he loved playing baseball and basketball as a kid and after high school, diving into sand volleyball and golf. He loved the competition, but more than that, he loved the people,” the obituary said.
Stanek had a “knack for bringing others together” and was described as having an “easygoing nature” that made everyone feel welcome. “… it was impossible to be around him without feeling his positive energy.”
Stanek worked for a home remodeling services company alongside his cousin. “Together, they were a successful team designing and remodeling homes,” the obituary said.