advertisement

Plea deal offered to Island Lake man involved in car crash that killed son

An Island Lake man facing drug charges in connection with a car crash that killed his 10-year-old son will decide Oct. 25 if he should accept a plea agreement with prosecutors for a lesser charge.

Scott Shirey, 50, the father of victim Griffin Shirey, faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted on multiple counts of reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence of drugs and endangering the life of a child.

However, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kenneth LaRue offered Shirey a plea agreement Tuesday on a reduced charge of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, which carries two years of probation and 90-day periodic imprisonment.

In court Tuesday, Shirey requested some time to think over the deal.

Periodic imprisonment means Shirey would be forced to spend evenings at Lake County jail for 90 days, but would be released for work and other important events, LaRue said.

Attorneys for both sides agreed to be back in court Oct. 25, where Shirey will decide whether to accept the plea or go to trial.

Shirey, of the 3300 block of Concordia Drive, was behind the wheel of a Lincoln sedan on Dec. 12, 2011, with his 10-year-old twin sons — Nicholas and Griffin — in the back seat when he tried to turn onto Old McHenry Road from Route 12 near North Barrington.

Shirey’s Lincoln was hit by an oncoming pickup truck driven by Matthew Loiacano, 30, of Kansasville, Wis., who drove through a red light and into the side of the sedan.

The force of the impact instantly killed Griffin Shirey, authorities said at the time of the crash, and severely injured Nicholas Shirey.

Lab tests later established Scott Shirey was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash, resulting in the charges.

Loiacano faces five years in prison if convicted on the five counts of reckless homicide he was charged with following the crash.

Authorities said Loiacano was unfamiliar with the heavy-duty pickup truck and was distracted while driving when he went through the red light.

Loiacano is due back in court on Dec. 6.

1 twin killed, 1 in hospital Driver blows red light near Lake Zurich

Elementary school grapples with Island Lake twin's death in crash

No charges yet in fatal Route 12 accident near Lake Zurich

Island Lake twin remains in critical condition

Benefit for accident victims:

Griffin Shirey funeral

Charges filed in fatal December Route 12 crash

Men charged in crash that killed Island Lake boy plead not guilty

Griffin Shirey
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.