Motorist ran over biker to avoid reporting accident, cops say

Frank J. MacNaught was known among his family and friends as the reliable one.

Before his violent death last week, the 37-year-old Lombard man was renovating his childhood home to better care for his mother, Ruth, who has emphysema, and his stepfather, Gary.

"He was such a good heart to everyone," said Ruth MacNaught. "He was always my handyman, my helper."

The 29-year-old Bellwood man accused of intentionally striking MacNaught with his SUV made his first court appearance Thursday following a traffic altercation that turned fatal in Addison.

DuPage Associate Judge Elizabeth Sexton ordered Fredrick V. Griffin held on a $750,000 bond after prosecutors charged him with reckless homicide, failure to report an accident involving personal injury or death and driving with a revoked license.

Prosecutors accused Griffin of fleeing after a minor traffic accident with MacNaught, on a motorcycle, that began at 7:30 p.m. July 24 at North and Ardmore avenues in Villa Park. Griffin received his learner's permit March 27, 1997 but never actually obtained a valid driver's license, secretary of state officials said. Despite not having a license, court records showed he repeatedly was caught behind the wheel and was ticketed.

After the first traffic incident, authorities allege Griffin pulled away to avoid arrest. MacNaught followed him to a nearby intersection, where the motorcyclist managed to get the license plate number from Griffin's 1995 Ford Explorer before the defendant again left the scene.

MacNaught, who wanted to file an accident report with police, again pursued; he caught up to Griffin after he pulled into a driveway on the 800 block of South Iowa Street in Addison, DuPage prosecutor Brooks Locke said.

That's where where the altercation turned violent.

"Griffin put the car into reverse, running over the victim," Locke said. "At least one witness saw the final incident."

Neighbors in the residential area said they heard the loud noise, ran outside and saw Griffin's SUV headed north toward Armitage Avenue, leaving skid marks at the scene.

Ruth MacNaught said she can't understand why she lost her son, a former Lombard police officer, in what should have been a minor traffic accident.

"It was such a senseless, stupid thing," she said. "(Griffin's) family is 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."

Police tracked Griffin down based on witness information and the license plate that he left behind. A warrant for his arrest was issued Monday. Detectives took him into custody Wednesday.

Griffin faces up to 14 years in prison if he is convicted. He denied intentionally harming MacNaught during his brief appearance in bond court.

His criminal history includes past arrests for four retail thefts, one theft and one criminal trespass to motor vehicle. Griffin served three prior stints in prison for two of the retail thefts and one theft charge.

"There's nothing that justified what happened," DuPage State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said of the fatal altercation. "The defendant's actions were outrageous and the charges reflect that."

Griffin, of 522 W. Geneva, remained in the DuPage County jail late Thursday. He must post the required 10 percent, or $75,000, of his bond to be released. A family member at his home said they are "in shock" over the allegations and intend to hire an attorney. She declined further comment.

MacNaught died of massive head injuries, an autopsy later revealed. His parents and his sister, Grace MacNaught, will hold a memorial service next week at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 220 S. Lincoln Ave. in Lombard, although the exact date is still pending.

And because MacNaught adored slot car racing and all things automotive, an additional memorial race will happen at 7:30 p.m. today at Paradise Raceway, 295 N. Northwest Highway in Palatine.

"He came in two years ago as to race and he became a friend," said Paradise Raceway co-owner Andy Kloc. "We couldn't believe it."

The race cost is $7, and proceeds will help pay for memorial service costs.