Palatine man charged in wrong-way crash that killed teacher

A Palatine man has been charged following a wrong-way crash earlier this month that killed a Wauconda High School teacher.

Guillermo Salgado, 28, of the 1200 block of Sterling Avenue, was charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence during an appearance Thursday morning in the Rolling Meadows branch of Cook County Circuit Court.

Authorities say Salgado was drunk and speeding early Dec. 10 when he crashed a Toyota Camry into a Ford Edge on Palatine Road east of Wheeling Road in Wheeling. The driver of the Edge, 53-year-old Bob Gillen of Palatine, was fatally injured.

The head-on collision occurred in the westbound lanes of Palatine Road, which is divided by a concrete barrier. Salgado had entered those lanes heading east at Wheeling Road, police said Thursday.

Because of the way Palatine Road rises and dips there, there would've been little time for Gillen to take evasive action as Salgado’s Camry approached, police said at the time.

Salgado was injured and was hospitalized after the crash. Two passengers, one in each vehicle, suffered minor injuries.

Gillen taught math and sports medicine at Wauconda High. He also was a trainer for all the school’s athletic teams.

During Thursday’s court hearing, Associate Judge Eric Sauceda ordered Salgado to be confined to his home with electronic monitoring, police said.

He has seven days to appear at the Wheeling police station for formal booking, police said.

Salgado is next scheduled to appear in court Jan. 26.