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Elgin man charged in fatal street race

Kane County prosecutors have authorized charges against an Elgin man accused of participating in a street race that led to the death of a 19-year-old man in July, authorities said Friday.

Daniel Mondragon, 22, of the 2300 block of Vineyard Court, is charged with one count of aggravated street racing, a Class 4 felony.

Kane County Sheriff's Lt. Pat Gengler said Mondragon was a participant in a July 15 street race in Dundee Township that led to the death of 19-year-old Omar Medrano of Elgin.

Mondragon and Medrano were racing side-by-side on northbound Route 25 about 9:25 p.m. when a sport utility vehicle turning into a driveway pulled in front of them, Gengler said. Medrano was killed when he attempted to swerve his 2002 Lexus around the oncoming vehicle and his car flipped over. Mondragon's 2009 Pontiac G6 did not crash.

Police believe the men may have begun racing at a stoplight on Route 25 south of I-90. Gengler said a crash reconstruction determined they were driving faster than the posted speed limit of 45 mph.

“There don't appear to be any signs of drugs or alcohol,” Gengler said. “It looks like it was two young men making a decision to do something that they probably shouldn't have done. You can't have a drag race unless you have two people engaging in that activity.”

Mondragon has a lengthy history of traffic offenses in Kane County, beginning in 2007 when he was 18 years old, according to court records. He has faced charges of driving 31 or more miles over the speed limit, tire screeching, following too closely and driving while unlicensed. He also has been issued citations for sound amplification, registration and muffler violations.

A woman who answered the phone at Mondragon's home Friday said he was “out of the country” and not likely to comment. Gengler said police were attempting to reach Mondragon in the hopes he will surrender within a few days on a $50,000 bail warrant.

If convicted, Mondragon could be sentenced to probation or one to three years in prison.

Attempts to reach Medrano's family for comment were unsuccessful.