Woman accused in hit-and-run that killed Island Lake man now also charged with DUI
A McHenry woman accused of hiding her car after a fatal hit-and-run now also is charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol in the crash that killed 24-year-old Austin Stanek of Island Lake, according to court records.
Christine S. Eilers, 51, initially was charged in January and indicted in February on felony failure to report a crash involving death and leaving the scene of an accident involving death, McHenry County court records show.
On April 10, two new charges of aggravated DUI were added, the documents show.
Stanek was hit by a car at about 11 p.m. Sept. 27 in the 4300 block of Roberts Road near Island Lake while walking with a group of people on or near the side of the road, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office has said.
Authorities allege that Eilers, who appeared in court Tuesday for a pretrial hearing, hit Stanek with her car, did not stop or call for help afterward and then hid her vehicle in her boyfriend’s garage.
Eilers was taken into custody Jan. 6 and appeared in an initial court hearing the next day. She was released from the county jail pretrial on electronic home monitoring and house arrest. On May 5, those conditions were removed and a curfew was added, an order said.
She also cannot leave the state without permission or consume alcohol and was fitted with a Continuing Alcohol Monitoring, or CAM, device, court records show.
During Eilers’ initial court appearance, a prosecutor said she had been drinking in bars earlier that night and afterward “concealed” her 2013 Nissan Murano in her boyfriend’s garage. Eilers struck Stanek from behind with her car and drove on, “never slowing down or stopping,” Assistant State’s Attorney Anthony Marin said in arguing she be detained pretrial. Eilers also goes by the name Christine Pine, authorities said.
Marin said later that night, Eilers went to her boyfriend’s Lakemoor home, told him she had been in an accident and was “distraught.” The pair then “concealed” her white SUV in his garage underneath a covering, Marin said.
Charges have not been filed against the boyfriend.
The most serious charge against Eilers is a Class 1 felony. If convicted, sentencing carries a maximum of 15 years in prison.
Stanek was a 2018 graduate of Wauconda High School. His memorial service was held on what would have been his 25th birthday. His family set up a GoFundMe page raising more than $42,000. The family also is planning an outdoor sand volleyball tournament and fundraiser Aug. 16 at JJ Twigs Pizza and Pub in Wauconda. Visit Belikeaustin.org.