Mother of Antioch man killed in motorcycle crash files lawsuit against suspect, 2 taverns
The mother of an Antioch motorcyclist killed in a 2015 DUI-related crash has filed a lawsuit seeking $1 million each from the woman charged in the case and two Lake County taverns.
Anita Afremow filed the lawsuit April 11 in Lake County circuit court on behalf of her deceased son, Gregory Boyes, 50. The suit names Leena A. Ultsch, 34, of Antioch Township, and the Tracks on Grand of Lake Villa and the Limerick Lounge of Antioch as defendants.
According to the complaint, Ultsch is accused of driving her automobile while impaired, and of following Boyes too closely. The court document also stated Ultsch operated her motor vehicle without adequate brakes, didn't keep a proper lookout ahead of her, and failed to decrease speed to avoid a crash with Boyes.
The taverns are named in the suit because they provided alcohol to Ultsch before the crash, and should have known she was under the influence of alcohol before leaving, the court document stated. Tavern officials were unavailable for comment.
Ultsch is in Lake County jail on $250,000 bail on charges of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, aggravated DUI resulting in death, and failure to report an accident resulting in death for the crash about 4 a.m. Aug. 26.
Court records show Ultsch is due back in court April 25 for trial. However, that trial could be postponed.
Lake County sheriff's deputies initially said Boyes lost control of his 2007 Suzuki motorcycle while driving west near North Linden Lane in Antioch. Hours later, investigators processing the crash site determined another vehicle had hit Boyes and left the scene.
Ultsch called the sheriff's office that morning and admitted she had collided with Boyes' motorcycle, and told police Boyes drifted into her lane as they passed each other. She told authorities she left the scene because she was scared.
She admitted to police she had consumed two or three glasses of wine two to three hours before the crash, authorities said.
While out on bond for the crash, she was charged with identity theft after taking $100 from a financial account she did not have permission to use, authorities said. She was again jailed, and able to post bond to be released from jail.
However, Ultsch left the state March 30 after testing positive for cocaine. A $150,000 bench warrant was issued against her. She was arrested April 6 in Wyoming and returned to Lake County.