Elgin Police: Woman who fled fatal crash was driving without a license
An Elgin woman with an extensive history of driving without a license will face charges after police said she fled the scene of a crash that killed a 25-year-old man Wednesday night.
Michele Higareda, 48, remained at Sherman Hospital Thursday night recovering from injuries sustained in the crash that killed motorcyclist Francisco Acevedo of Elgin at the intersection of Walnut Avenue and Mosley Street, but she will likely be charged upon her release, said Elgin Police spokeswoman Sue Olafson.
“Her license was not valid at the time of the accident,” Olafson said.
Police would not comment on what the likely charges will be.
Higareda was driving a 1999 GMC Suburban when a motorcyclist struck the side of her vehicle as she was making a left turn at the intersection of Walnut Avenue and Mosley Street at around 7 p.m., according to police.
Witnesses saw Higareda flee from the scene and helped authorities locate her inside her home on the 200 block of Channing Street shortly after the crash, Olafson said. The vehicle was parked outside, according to reports.
Authorities found Higareda injured inside the home and transported her to Sherman Hospital where she remained in police custody on outstanding warrants related to earlier driving offenses, Olafson said.
This is not the first time Higareda has driven without a valid license, according to court records.
Since 1994 in Kane County, Higareda has been cited four times for driving without a license, twice for driving on a suspended license and one time for driving on an expired license, according to court records.
She has also been cited for driving without a valid registration twice and operating an uninsured vehicle five times, according to records.
Acevedo was pronounced dead at Provena St. Joseph Hospital shortly after the crash.