More charges possible in crash that killed Grayslake woman

Lake County officials are awaiting further evidence before deciding if additional charges will be filed against a Lisle man accused of killing a woman when he ran a red light in Waukegan early Thursday morning.

Assistant State's Attorney Stephen Scheller said Donald Mischke, 54, is under police watch at Advocate Condell Memorial Hospital in Libertyville where he is being treated for a broken leg and wrist.

Elisha Clark, 25, of Grayslake, died when police say a car being driven south on Green Bay Road at a high rate of speed ran the red light at Belvidere Road around 2 a.m. and struck her car in the side.

Shortly before the crash, Scheller said, a Waukegan police officer on patrol spotted Mischke loading a flat-screen television set into his car, parked behind the Target store at Lewis and Sunset.

The officer attempted to stop Mischke's car near the store, Scheller said, but Mischke drove off at a high rate of speed.

The officer broke off her pursuit of Mischke when he turned left onto Green Bay Road, Scheller said, because of the traffic on the road and the speed at which Mischke was traveling.

An off-duty Waukegan police officer witnessed the crash at Green Bay and Belvidere, Scheller said, and prosecutors are seeking to review videotape from the red-light camera at the intersection as part of their ongoing investigation.

Mischke was charged with driving under the influence of drugs after blood taken from him at the hospital tested positive for cocaine, Scheller said, and Mischke's blood was sent to the crime laboratory for further analysis.

Sheller said Mischke, of the 1600 block of Robin Lane, Lisle, lost his driver's license after a 1994 conviction for DUI and was convicted of driving with a revoked license in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

A court date will be scheduled when hospital officials notify his office that Mischke can be released from their care, Scheller said.