Man gets 6 years in fatal Addison accident

A man was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison for fleeing after a bizarre traffic altercation in Addison that turned fatal.

Fredrick V. Griffin, 30, of Bellwood, received the punishment after he pleaded guilty to failing to report an accident involving death. He faced up to a possible 15 years in prison for his role in an accident last summer that killed Frank J. MacNaught.

MacNaught is remembered by his family and friends as reliable. The 37-year-old Lombard man was renovating his childhood home before his death to better care for his mother, Ruth, who has emphysema, and his stepfather, Gary.

The fatal melee grew out of a minor traffic accident between the two motorists at 7:30 p.m. July 24 at North and Ardmore avenues in Villa Park. Afterward, Griffin was accused of fleeing the scene.

MacNaught, driving a motorcycle, pursued. He trailed Griffin to a nearby intersection, where the motorcyclist managed to get the license plate from Griffin's 1995 Ford Explorer before the defendant left the scene.

MacNaught again pursued, and caught up with Griffin as he pulled into a driveway on the 800 block of South Iowa Street in Addison.

Authorities said that's where their altercation turned violent. They said MacNaught was standing near the driver's side of Griffin's SUV and fell underneath as the other motorist attempted to drive in reverse. Griffin then fled north toward Armitage Avenue, leaving skid marks at the scene.

Police tracked him down days later based on witness information and the license plate he left behind.

Griffin denied intentionally harming MacNaught. The defendant's criminal history includes past arrests for four retail thefts, one theft and one criminal trespass to a motor vehicle. He served stints in prison for two of the retail thefts and one theft charge.

MacNaught, who adored slot car racing and all things automotive, died of massive head injuries. After her son's death, Ruth MacNaught lamented her loss.

"It was such a senseless, stupid thing," she told the Daily Herald. "(Griffin's) family is in bad shape and mine will never be the same no matter what they do to him. Frank had police training, he knew how to be safe ... I don't know how he could have gotten into that predicament. If I could make it better for either family, I would."

DuPage Circuit Judge Kathryn Creswell handed down Tuesday's sentence. Griffin is eligible for parole after serving half the prison term.