Judge: Elderly man wanted to die in head-on crash

An 80-year-old St. Charles man accused of intentionally causing a head-on crash that critically injured another driver told police he was trying to kill himself and "hurt someone else in the process," a judge said in court Tuesday.

Bail was set at $500,000 for George H. Smith, of the 1000 block of North Fifth Avenue, who is charged with two counts of aggravated battery in connection with the Aug. 6 crash in Geneva.

Kane County Judge James C. Hallock said Smith told police he was angry after his wife was granted an order of protection from him and intended to hurt someone else in the process of committing suicide.

The judge said Smith admitted to swerving his car into an oncoming vehicle about 6 p.m. Aug. 6 on the 1800 block of West State Street after initially contemplating driving into a tree.

The crash left Smith with a broken arm and the other driver, a 46-year-old Geneva man, with a broken hip, head trauma and bleeding on the brain.

"This is a very dangerous situation," Hallock said. "I think the only way the rest of the public would be safe is if he's (Smith) in jail."

According to court records, Smith's 92-year-old wife was granted an order of protection in July after Smith was accused of giving her a "double dose" of codeine and threatening her sister, who also obtained an order of protection.

The allegations say Smith has a gambling addiction and a history of schizophrenia, manic depression and multiple personality disorder. His "state of mind makes him a threat to not only (his sister-in-law), but all the family," according to the petition seeking a protective order for Smith's sister-in-law.

Defense attorney David Camic said Smith is retired from the printing industry and has owned a home in St. Charles for 30 years. This is the first time he has been charged with a crime, Camic said.

"He's not a danger to anyone," Camic said. "He's obviously going through a rough time."

Smith, who did not speak at Tuesday's bond hearing, appeared in court wearing a jail-issued orange jumpsuit with a cast covering his left arm from above the elbow. His son also was present but did not speak.

If convicted of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, Smith could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

Camic said he will seek a bond reduction at Smith's next court appearance Friday Aug. 20 in front of Judge Allen M. Anderson.