Lake County man mulls plea deal in crash that killed Lindenhurst father, daughter
A Lake County man must decide by next week whether to take a misdemeanor plea deal or face "significant" prison time if found guilty at trial of reckless homicide in connection with a 2015 crash that killed a Lindenhurst man and his teenage daughter, a judge said Tuesday.
Christopher Romano, 33, of Zion will appear before Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti on Aug. 3 with a decision whether to admit to a misdemeanor count of reckless driving or go to trial on three felony counts of reckless homicide.
The charges stem from a horrendous Aug. 29, 2015, crash that killed 50-year-old Chris Winiewicz of Lindenhurst and his 15-year-old daughter, Haylie.
If Romano accepts the plea deal, he could be sentenced to up to a year in Lake County jail, officials said. Probation also would be possible.
If he declines and takes the case to trial, he could be sentenced up to 5 years in prison if found guilty. That term could be extended, Rossetti added, because Romano has 18 previous traffic-related offenses on his record, including speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol. He also served an 18-month prison sentence on a conviction for misuse of a credit card.
Rossetti discussed the details of the proposed plea deal Tuesday after meeting in chambers with county prosecutors and Romano's defense lawyer. The survivors and family members of those killed in the crash are aware of the plea offer and they approve, the judge added.
Authorities say Romano caused the crash by driving through a yellow light at routes 45 and 132 in Lindenhurst moments before his Nissan pickup truck slammed into the Winiewicz vehicle. Ashley Winiewicz, 16, who was driving the family's Kia at the time, survived the crash, as did Romano's 25-year-old passenger.
Prosecutors allege Romano accelerated to get through the yellow light. Defense attorney Jed Stone said Chris Winiewicz told his daughter to "go," enticing the inexperienced driver to cut in front of Romano's vehicle.
Ashley Winiewicz was operating the vehicle on a learner's driving permit, legal in Illinois since her father was riding in the vehicle's passenger seat, authorities said.
Prosecutors have video of the crash from a nearby business showing Romano driving through the yellow light, Rossetti said in court. The defense has indicated it would call expert witnesses to counter prosecutors' claims.