Driver Accused Of Hitting Bicyclist With Car, Fleeing Scene

By Sam Borcia, Lake & McHenry County Scanner

Police arrested a man after he allegedly hit a pedestrian, causing a serious injury, and then fled the scene in Fox Lake last weekend, prosecutors said.

Justin M. Ostrowski, 29, of the 35100 block of North Randhill Drive in Ingleside, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injury, a Class 4 felony, and cited for failure to reduce speed and driving an uninsured motor vehicle.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Humke said there was a 911 call for a hit-and-run of a pedestrian on October 7. Fox Lake police officers arrived to find the victim lying on the ground next to his bicycle. Humke did not say whether the victim was on his bicycle at the time of the crash.

The victim suffered a compound fracture to one of his hands. Officers tracked down the vehicle immediately after the incident and learned Ostrowski was the driver, Humke said during a bond hearing.

There were pieces of the vehicle left at the scene which matched Ostrowski’s car, Humke said. Ostrowski provided an alcohol breath sample, which was negative.

He told officers that he thought he hit something, got scared and “thought his life was over,” which led to him fleeing the scene.

Lake County Judge James Simonian allowed Ostrowski to be released on a personal recognizance bond.

Ostrowski is scheduled to appear in court again on November 7 for a status of preliminary hearing.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.