Schaumburg woman held in E. Dundee hit-and-run of cyclist

ladkins@dailyherald.com

A Schaumburg woman remained behind bars in Kane County on Monday, days after police said she was driving under the influence when she rear-ended a cyclist in East Dundee and fled the scene.

Police said that the 32-year-old cyclist’s head and neck injuries were so severe from the Friday morning collision that he almost died.

Erika M. Morset, 33, of the 1500 block of Revere Circle in Schaumburg, was later charged with leaving the scene of an injury accident, not reporting an injury accident — both felonies — and with two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence, Police Chief Terry Mee said.

Police said she was driving a 1999 Honda that may have also struck parked cars that same morning in Elgin. She has not been charged in Elgin.

Police arrived at the scene of the crash, on South River Street, just north of Maiden Lane, about 5:20 a.m. Friday. The cyclist, who is from West Dundee, suffered a significant loss of blood, and authorities were concerned that it presented a significant threat to his life, Mee said.

The cyclist was taken to Sherman Hospital in Elgin, before being airlifted to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. He remained there Monday, Mee said.

After the cyclist was hit, Mee said, Morset drove off. She was found 45 minutes later in Carpentersville, intoxicated and parked outside the Meadowdale Shopping Mall, Mee said.

Personnel from the Carpentersville Fire Department took Morset to Sherman Hospital for a well-being check. Later, once the police investigation indicated Morset was responsible for the hit-and-run, she taken to the East Dundee Police Department, where she was booked on the charges, Mee said.

Morset’s bail was set Saturday at $150,000. She must post $15,000 to get out of jail while her case moves through the courts.

Her next court date is May 29. If found guilty of any of the Class 4 felonies, Morset could spend between one and three years in prison.