Great Lakes - Kenosha - Hit and run

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=784321 :(

KENOSHA COUNTY
Bicyclist dies from hit-and-run injuries

A bicyclist who was struck by a pickup truck in a hit-and-run crash Saturday night in Kenosha County has died of his injuries, according to a news release issued by the county Sheriff’s Department.

According to the release:

Gordon M. Kleifield, 44, of Chicago was riding west on county Highway C just east of county Highway B about 8:30 p.m. when he and another bicyclist were hit by the vehicle, described as a darker gray, mid- to full-size truck.

Kleifield was taken to St. Catherine’s Hospital in Kenosha and later transported by Flight for Life to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa.

The other bicyclist, a 46-year-old man from McHenry, Ill., was treated and released from St. Catherine’s.

Authorities are still searching for the truck and the driver, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

After the crash, the truck continued west on county Highway C before turning north on county Highway B.

The truck’s passenger-side outside mirror was left at the scene.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department at (262) 605-5100 or Crime Stoppers at (262) 656-7333.

Hang the SOB!

What is this, three this summer in Racine/Kenosha counties? I've only read that the first got caught and, amazingly, they really threw the book at the driver. The last two are still out drinking and driving.

Yup. Some folks would say "be careful out there", but that's got nothing to do with it.

I say don't ride the open road after 3pm unless you're on a very controlled circuit somewhere.

It's not like law enforcement isn't out there either, they have a strong presence. There's just too damn many drunks driving the roads - period. :mad:

D'Oh!
Really though... what do you think?
Blinky or no?

I got back in by 7:30 last night after doing about half of the Des Plaines River Trail (in some rain)
On the way back there was lots of drinking and trucking leaving that bar on Russel Road near the railroad tracks. One was sort of annoying and "clocking me" and goading me on due to me "only doing 20mph" on my ratty old mtb.

Watch your ass out there, keep an eye and ear out for car/trucks back. Don't consider riding two across at night and you better have lights. That is a very rural area.

Certainly take safety precautions up a notch. Flashing tail lights, bright clothes, acute awareness, the works!

The thing of it is, though, you may have no say in the matter. When I was run down from behind (hit and run) it was 5pm on a bright sunny Sunday, on a flat straight road (in Racine County about 2 miles from where the last two hit and run deaths occurred).

It's one thing being hit, but another being left for dead and just continuing on, and unfortunately that's just what's been happening. A grim outlook on riding for sure, but it is reality for some.

If you're out riding after 3pm, ride as much trail or traffic restricted loops as you can. Stay off the open road.

Here is approximately where it occurred:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=42.520193,-88.171291&spn=0.048837,0.076904&z=14&layer=c&cbll=42.511165,-88.173477&panoid=g3_RCHG8n_bbQS4njCw7ug

Click on the street view to see what the road looks like.

I was watching WGN news this morning,and they found the vehicle,newer jeep grand cherokee,with missing passenger side mirror and some damage to headlight/bumper area,no word on driver.

Hang the SOB!

Agreed. Get them off the street and hang those mothafuggars from a light pole with a sign around their necks: DUI Killer.

I was watching WGN news this morning,and they found the vehicle,newer jeep grand cherokee,with missing passenger side mirror and some damage to headlight/bumper area,no word on driver.

But, they also just released another request to help find the vehicle. Makes me think they didn't really find the vehicle.

The sad thing is, 50 cents says that even if they find the vehicle, they'll never be able to nail the driver. There will be that "reasonable doubt" that the (explicative-deleted) driver was actually behind the wheel. I'm just so cynical and really tired of feeling like I ride with a large target splattered across my back.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=228963


Kenosha County sheriff's officials are looking for the driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee that may have been involved in a fatal hit-and-run incident involving two bicyclists just north of the Illinois-Wisconsin border.
The Jeep was found at a house in Spring Grove, Wisc., said Sgt. Gil Benn of the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department. But, he said, the owner of the house was not driving the vehicle Saturday night when it struck and killed a Chicago man and left a McHenry man injured on Wilmot Road in Wilmot, Wisc.
In addition, he said the SUV with a missing passenger-side mirror is registered to someone in Walworth County.
"The Jeep is used on a regular basis by someone else that isn't the registered owner," Benn said. "So, we are looking for that person and want to talk with him."
Benn said detectives have spoken with the Spring Grove homeowner and the Jeep's owner, but neither were driving it Saturday.
"We are having trouble locating the person who was said to be driving the Jeep," he said. "But, that person is definitely someone we want to speak with."
Gordon M. Kleifield, 46, of 7414 N. Kedzie Ave. in Chicago was killed and Daniel J. Dugan, 44, of McHenry, suffered minor injuries in the accident about three miles north of the border.
Sheriff officials are asking anyone with information about the accident to contact them at (262) 605-5100.

"We are having trouble locating the person who was said to be driving the Jeep,"

They'll find him, even if he's on his way to a remote part of Kazakhstan! :mad:

They caught the woman. She lives here in Illinois. The article was in the Daily Herald in the last week but I cannot find it online. The found her damaged car in the garage. Her lawyer said she did not have to turn herself in until charged!!

Here's a follow up from the Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-hit-and-run-kenosha-both-19-sep19,0,33563.story

That really is pathetic - such a lack of compassion or care for human life. I would not be surprised if this woman had deeper psychological issues that might have had some effect on her decision to leave the scene of the crime, and not help these guys in some way. I can't even imagine that drugs or alcohol could have been the ONLY determining factor in regard to her actions after this occurred. One can imagine, accidentally hitting someone...these sort of things can occur...without all fault being placed on the driver, but not helping someone you hit, really is incomprehensible to me. Btw, I used to live off of Wilmot Rd. in Pleasant Prairie...currently living in South Mundelein near Vernon Hills.

Here's another little gem from our wonderful city:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=798458

Police, aware of the hit-and-run, stopped McKay in the 3400 block of E. Howard Ave. after noticing damage to her vehicle. McKay said the damage was from a previous accident, according to the complaint. Police, however, found Ahrens’ purse stuck in the grille of the Aztek.

Well, not a slap on the wrist, but . . .

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/38574897.html

Woman gets four years in death of cyclist
By Ryan Haggerty of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Jan. 28, 2009 8:20 p.m.

A 41-year-old woman was sentenced to four years in prison today for killing a bicyclist in a hit-and-run crash in Kenosha County in August, according to online court records.

Barbara Lee of Spring Grove, Ill., pleaded guilty in December to one count of hit-and-run involving death, court records show.

Lee was also sentenced to 10 years of extended supervision, and her driver's license was revoked for five years, according to the court records.

Gordon M. Kleifield, 44, of Chicago, was riding west on county Highway C just east of county Highway B near Wilmot about 8:30 p.m. Aug. 16 when he and another bicyclist were hit by a vehicle described as a dark gray, mid- to full-size truck.

Kleifield was flown to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, where he died.

The other bicyclist, a 46-year-old man from McHenry, Ill., was treated and released from a Kenosha hospital.

After the crash, the truck continued west on Highway C before turning north on Highway B.

The truck's passenger-side outside mirror was left at the scene.

On Aug. 18, authorities seized a dark gray Jeep Grand Cherokee from the garage of a house in Spring Grove, Ill., after receiving a tip from an anonymous caller.

About four weeks after the crash, detectives traced Lee to an Elmhurst, Ill., residence, where she was arrested.

4 years for murder? That's it? :(

:(

4 years for murder? That's it? :(

To be objectively fair, I think it has to be intentional to be murder.

What is the penalty for a hit and run death of a road construction worker in a construction zone?

What is the penalty for a hit and run death of a police officer at a traffic stop?

A life is a life and the penalties should be the same.

Plus she hid from authorities. She must have used here 'get out of jail free' card.

To be objectively fair, I think it has to be intentional to be murder.

I think she had all intentions of leaving him dying on the street when she left the scene.

4 years for murder? That's it? :(

She won't be able to drive while in prison.
Her driver's license was revoked for five years.
Wow, one year out of prison and back on the road she goes.

She won't be able to drive while in prison.
Her driver's license was revoked for five years.
Wow, one year out of prison and back on the road she goes.

Ready to strike down with a vengeance.

She won't be able to drive while in prison.
Her driver's license was revoked for five years.
Wow, one year out of prison and back on the road she goes.

Oh come on now . . . you don't think she'll actually serve all four years do you?

Edit: Or even that once she's out she won't actually drive without a license?