Man Charged With Street Racing in Fatal Hoffman Estates Crash

From "Rebel Without a Cause" to "The Fast and the Furious," street racing has always been glorified on the silver screen. But as we all know, there is a stark difference between the movies and real life. In reality, street racing is a dangerous and deadly activity that lawmakers in Illinois have outlawed. After all, there's a reason why people have been saying "speed kills" for decades.

An accountant from Wheaton may be starting to realize this fact. This week, the 37-year old man was charged with aggravating street racing as well as leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. If convicted on those two counts, he could receive a prison term of as much as 27 years - or he could just be sentenced to probation.

The charges stem from a winter auto accident in Hoffman Estates. Around 7:30pm on January 27, the man was seen racing his 2002 Subaru Impreza alongside a 2003 Jaguar on Golf Road at speeds exceeding 80 miles per hour. The Jaguar lost control and fishtailed into the 2001 Hyundai Tiberion driven by a 62-year old woman who was on her way home from work. Both the woman and the 32-year old North Aurora man driving the Jaguar lost their lives.

Prosecutors are charging the Wheaton man with these crimes even though his Subaru was not directly involved in the fatal auto accident. This is important to note because the fact that the accountant may be convicted of two felonies will have an impact on any wrongful death lawsuits which may be filed in the future by the heirs of either the woman or the North Aurora man. Had the Wheaton man not been charged, it is possible that he would have avoided any responsibility for the deaths of the two people. As it stands, he may be ordered to pat damages to the victims' families if it is determined that he is partially liable for their deaths