Lisle man charged in connection with Elmhurst crash

Elmhurst police have filed charges against two men they say crashed a pickup truck on railroad tracks and then ran away, leaving a severely injured friend in the path of a freight train.

Police said the truck was heading south on Clara Place when it hit the parkway at First Street and became airborne. It eventually landed on one of three sets of railroad tracks running along First Street, Police Chief Steve Neubauer said.

That, apparently, is when the driver and one of the passengers fled, he said.

The engineer of the oncoming train saw the vehicle on the tracks and was able to stop in time, Neubauer said.

Neil Lopez, of 2280 Ridgewood Road, Lisle, was sitting in the rear passenger seat at the time of the accident, but wound up unconscious and seriously injured in the front seat.

Though the accident happened at 2:47 a.m. March 15, the investigation was ongoing and charges weren't filed until Wednesday.

The driver, Michael Gotsis, 19, of 6261 Lakewood Drive, Lisle, was charged with felony aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, failure to report an accident, failure to give aid, reckless driving and unlawful consumption of alcohol.

A passenger, James Troncin, 20, of 110 Willow Road, Elmhurst, was charged with reckless conduct.

Police also charged two men who they said hosted the party the trio attended before the crash: Daniel Dichiara and Patrick Ambrose, both 22 of 121 E. Fremont Ave., Elmhurst, were charged with unlawfully permitting a minor to become intoxicated.