McHenry man charged with DUI after 2 hit-and-run crashes

A McHenry man faces several charges after he fled the scene of a pair of crashes on Route 120 in Lakemoor, and stopped only after a third crash in unincorporated McHenry County disabled his vehicle, police said Tuesday.

Allen R. Snyder, 46, of the 1800 block of Oak Drive, was charged by Lakemoor Police with driving under the influence of alcohol, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of driving without valid insurance and two counts of failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, Police Chief Dave Godlewski said.

The series of crashes started when Snyder was heading west on Route 120 and rear-ended a Volkswagen Jetta at the Sullivan Lake Road intersection at 8:40 p.m. Monday, Godlewski said

Snyder fled the scene and continued westbound on Route 120, where he ran into a Chevy Cobalt at Darrell Road and Route 120 about three minutes later, Godlewski said.

Snyder also left that accident scene, Godlewski said, but crashed again about five minutes later at a stoplight at Route 120 and Chapel Hill Road in unincorporated McHenry County.

The third crash disabled Snyder's car enough to end his driving for the night, Godlewski said, and he was taken into custody.

McHenry County Sheriff's Deputy Aimee Knop said Snyder was injured after rear-ending the third vehicle. He was taken to Advocate Hospital — McHenry, where he was treated, charged, and released back into the custody of Lakemoor Police, Knop said.

A woman was injured in the second crash and taken to Centegra Hospital — McHenry with nonlife threatening injuries.

“From my perspective, this is why (Lakemoor Police) are so intent on stopping drunk drivers,” Godlewski said. “This person proved to be a definite threat to society. It's only by the grace of God that he didn't end up killing somebody.”

McHenry County authorities charged Snyder with failure to reduce speed to avoid and accident and driving without insurance.

Additional charges are expected by the McHenry County States Attorney's Office after the police investigation is completed, officials said.

Snyder appeared in McHenry County bond court Tuesday and was ordered held in lieu of a $5,000 cash bond. He must post all of it to be released, police said.