Driver charged in hit-and-run that left woman seriously hurt in Algonquin
ALGONQUIN, Ill. (CBS) – A man was charged in a hit-and-run crash that left a woman seriously hurt in Algonquin Saturday night.
Police say around 9:09 p.m., officers received a call of a motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian at the intersection of Route 62 and South River Road.
Initial reports revealed the pedestrian, a 25-year-old woman of Lake in the Hills, was utilizing the crosswalk and attempted to cross the street when a dark-colored Chevrolet Equinox struck her and left the scene. Arriving units found the woman lying in the roadway.
Witnesses say the inner lane of eastbound traffic had stopped to allow the victim to cross when the SUV traveling eastbound in the far right outside lane hit her.
The victim was taken to Huntley Northwestern Hospital by ambulance with serious injuries.
The accident caused a closure of the inside lanes of eastbound and westbound Route 62. Outside lanes of Route 62 were used to maintain traffic flow for both eastbound and westbound directions. Lanes were closed for nearly four hours.
Information obtained during the course of the investigation led officers to the 500 block of North Harrison Street where they found the SUV in the rear parking lot of a multi-tenant living complex. The vehicle had damage consistent with being involved in the crash.
A 33-year-old woman of Algonquin told officers she was a passenger in the vehicle involved in the accident.
She identified the driver as 38-year-old Paul Epifanio who was then contacted by officers and arrested on an unrelated outstanding warrant, police said.
Epifanio was taken to the Algonquin Police Department where he admitted to driving the vehicle involved in the crash.
He was charged with:
- One count of felony leaving the scene of an injury crash
- One count of felony failure to report accident
- One count of no valid driver's license
- One count of improper use of registration
- One count of expired registration
- One count of failure to yield to pedestrian at a crosswalk
- One count of failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash
- One count of unsafe tires
Epifanio was taken to McHenry County Jail to await a bond hearing.
The condition of the victim has been stabilized.