Buffalo Grove man charged in fatal Mt. Prospect hit and run
To correct the original version of this story, Allan Dorfman is a former member of the Temple Chai synagogue in Long Grove, said his defense attorney, Mark Sutter.
A Buffalo Grove man was arrested Friday on charges he fled the scene of an accident when his car struck and killed a man crossing the street in Mount Prospect in March.
Allan Dorfman, 64, was driving his 2013 Nissan Altima east on Algonquin Road near Briarwood Drive at 8:10 p.m. March 22 when the vehicle hit 46-year-old Jose Gonzalez-Navarette, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Maria McCarthy said during a Friday afternoon bond hearing.
The impact caused Gonzalez-Navarette to be propelled some 50 feet in the air; he then landed on the road and lay motionless, McCarthy said.
Dorfman didn't stop his car or attempt to render any aid to the victim, she said.
Dorfman was charged with one felony count of failure to report an accident involving a death. Police said Friday his arrest comes after a thorough investigation.
A judge set bail at $200,000, of which Dorfman posted the necessary 10 percent to be released Friday afternoon.
The collision was captured on video and released to the media a day later. Prosecutors say Dorfman was watching a TV news report about the crash, which prompted him to call Mount Prospect police two days after the accident.
According to prosecutors, Dorfman told a detective his car had been damaged by debris, but he thought it was ice. Prosecutors said that when he was asked to come to the police station, Dorfman replied, "Now I told you before that I had nothing to do with the accident, right?"
The morning after the crash, prosecutors say, Dorfman took his car to a repair shop and filed a claim with his insurance company, stating ice hit his car.
McCarthy said the weather was clear the evening of crash.
Police sent portions of Dorfman's damaged front bumper, grille and windshield to the Illinois State Police crime lab, and an analysis found they matched pieces of debris found at the scene.
Defense attorney Mark Sutter said his client did not believe he hit someone and has no previous criminal history.
He has been involved with two synagogues in the north suburbs and is a volunteer with the Myers Place supportive housing complex in Mount Prospect.
"He's truly a great man and a huge volunteer in this community," Sutter said after the court hearing. "He did not believe he hit a human."
Dorfman is due in court again Oct. 8.