Bond set at $100,000 for man accused of fleeing fatal crash
By KATE SCHOTT kschott@daily-chronicle.com
SYCAMORE – The man charged with fleeing the scene of a fatal crash Sunday had no license to drive, police and prosecutors said Monday.
Bond was set Monday at $100,000 for Jose M. Reyes, 18, of the 900 block of East State Street in Sycamore. Associate Judge William Brady also appointed the public defender to represent Reyes.
Police say alcohol was a factor in the crash that killed backseat passenger 34-year-old Roberto A. Sanchez of Sycamore and injured another man, Elias Ortega, who was found outside the car. Sheriff Roger Scott said police are waiting for toxicology tests to determine whether Reyes was drunk at the time of the crash.
DeKalb County Sheriff's Police say Reyes was driving a 1993 Nissan 240 SX that veered off Airport Road, north of Quigley Road, around 3:40 a.m. Sunday, striking a utility pole.
Sanchez and Ortega were not wearing seat belts, Scott said. Ortega was thrown from the car; police are still working to verify his age and address. Scott said Ortega was at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, but officials there said they had no record of him being at that hospital. Scott said Oretga has initially been in critical condition but was doing better.
After the crash, Reyes and 30-year-old Leonicio Hernandez – a DeKalb resident and front-seat passenger – ran from the crash, Scott said, but Reyes first took the license plates from his vehicle and threw them in a corn field. Reyes had a cell phone on him but did not call police, according to the criminal complaint filed Monday.
"They they tried to elude and confuse the investigation," Scott said. "It was obvious they were not going to file a report. They did not want the police to know whose car it was."
Nearby residents who called police about the crash reported that at least one person had run away, Scott said. Sheriff's deputies and Sycamore Police, assisted by search dogs, found Reyes and Hernandez as they were approaching Reyes' house.
Reyes gave a videotaped statement in which he admitted to driving the vehicle, removing and throwing the license plates and fleeing the scene, according to the criminal complaint.
Scott said the investigation was ongoing. Reyes is charged with failing to report an accident involving the death of another and obstructing justice, as well as with three traffic offenses, including improper lane usage, operating a motor vehicle without insurance and driving without a valid driver's license.
Asked whether Reyes would face any charges in connection with Sanchez's death, Scott said the case is still being reviewed by the DeKalb County State's Attorney's office. Brady appointed the public defender's office to represent Reyes, and set a court date of Nov. 9 for his next appearance.
Hernandez was wanted on a DeKalb County warrant from 2004 for failing to appear in court on charges of retail theft. Hernandez has not been charged with anything related to Sunday's accident, and was released from the jail after posting the $500 bond in connection with his warrant, Scott said.
Scott said his office is also following up with federal immigration officials because Reyes and Hernandez are not in the U.S. legally.
Scott applauded local residents who called authorities about the crash.
"They supplied critical information about people leaving the scene," he added.
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