$500,000 bond in fatal hit and run
A Cook County judge set bond at $500,000 Monday for Hersey High School senior Kevin Schuh, charged with aggravated drunken driving, reckless homicide and hit-and-run in the death of Monika Skrzypkowski late Saturday in Prospect Heights.
Prospect Heights Police Chief Bruce Morris said Schuh, 17, struck the Arlington Heights 15-year-old with his car as she crossed Elmhurst Road about 11 p.m., minutes after she called her mother for a ride home from a family birthday party at her boyfriend's house.
Schuh hit Skrzypkowski with such force that the impact "knocked her out of her boots" and detached the hood of her coat, said Assistant State's Attorney Kristin Piper at Schuh's bond hearing Monday afternoon in Rolling Meadows.
Skrzypkowski was taken to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights Saturday night where she was pronounced dead 40 minutes after the accident. A Cook County medical examiner determined she died of multiple trauma.
About an hour after the accident, Morris said, Schuh contacted police claiming someone had damaged his car and he wanted a police report taken.
Officers went to Schuh's home, saw the damage on the car and matched it to the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run.
"He was taken to the police station and questioned about the accident," Morris said.
Because the teen was driving impaired when hitting and killing Skrzypkowski, Morris said, he was charged with aggravated DUI causing bodily harm or death - a Class 2 felony.
Schuh admitted to consuming seven beers and a vodka drink, said Piper. A police administered breath-alcohol test registered his blood alcohol content at .06, she said. He also admitted that he hit someone and fled the scene, she said.
Like the victim, Schuh also attended a party Saturday night, arriving about 6 p.m. with four cases of beer and a gallon of vodka, said Piper.
He left the party at 9 p.m. to get more beer, Piper said. A witness at the party warned Schuh not to drive but he dismissed the warning, she added.
Defense attorney Barry Shepherd said Schuh is a college-bound student who maintains a near B grade point average, captains his school's rugby team and was named its "most valuable player."
An audible gasp came from Schuh's parents as Cook County Judge Joseph Urso imposed the half million dollar bond on the teen. Sheppard requested Schuh's bond be lowered to $250,000, saying the teen is not a flight risk and pointing out he came to the police voluntarily.
Schuh is not given to reckless behavior, said Sheppard, who attributed Schuh's flight and false police report to panic.
"He has been without blemish on his life up to this sad incident," said Sheppard, describing his client as deeply contrite and saddened. "His past record is spotless."
Piper added that Schuh had received supervision for a July 2008 speeding charge.
Urso denied Sheppard's request to lower the bond. He also imposed special conditions that include a curfew except for school, religious services or medical treatment; and ordered he have no contact with the victim's family. He also ordered Schuh not to drive.
Schuh next appears in Rolling Meadows courtroom 108 at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 9.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=256506">Teen charged in hit-and-run that killed Arlington Heights girl <span class="date">[12/8/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=256413">Family mourns Hersey sophomore killed by hit-and-run driver <span class="date">[12/7/08]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>