Bicycle Fatality: Lawyer For Hit-And-Run Driver Visited Police, No Charges Yet Filed

JOLIET —It has been three months since the death of 56-year-old Donald "Donny" Shiner, who was known around Joliet's bicycle community as one of the city's most avid cyclists. Shiner was known for riding the streets of Joliet during all hours of the night — and that's how he died.

So far, no criminal charges have been filed even though Joliet police and the Will County State's Attorney's Office were made aware of the driver's identity nearly three months ago. As for the Joliet bicycle victim, Shiner was born in South Korea in 1968.

"At the age of 6, Donny moved to the United States and was adopted by his parents, Tony and Jonelle Shiner," his obituary from Kurtz Memorial Chapel reflected. "He grew up in New Lenox and worked for many years as a handyman and landscaper in the Joliet, and formerly the Muncie, Indiana, areas. Donny was an avid bicyclist, riding thousands of miles a year, and was proud of his accomplishments of riding to the summit of Pike's Peak."

Shortly before 3 a.m. on Oct. 6, Joliet police officer Don McKinney responded to the 200 block of South Larkin Avenue, in front of the Culvers restaurant.

"Upon arrival, I observed a male subject laying motionless on the pavement, in the southbound lanes. There were bicycle parts, including bicycle lights, that were still illuminated throughout the roadway," McKinney wrote in his police report. "I checked on the male victim, and he was not breathing nor did he have a pulse. I started chest compressions on the victim until JFD arrived and took over treatment."

At the scene, Shiner had a head wound and severe trauma to his right leg, McKinney noted. At the scene of the hit-and-run, McKinney also interviewed two motorcyclists. They told him that they were riding northbound on Larkin Avenue and they saw Shiner in the roadway. That prompted them to do a U-turn to block traffic so that Shiner would get hit by any more vehicles.

The motorcycle riders told Joliet police that they did not see the actual crash.

"I observed that the Culvers had exterior cameras but a keyholder could not be contacted. I did check flock for vehicles passing through southbound Larkin Avenue from Jefferson and near the intersection of Larkin and McDonough, but was not able to identify the offending vehicle at that time. The scene was turned over to traffic for their investigation," McKinney wrote.

Attorney Jeff Tomczak Reveals Client Was Responsible

More than 36 hours after Shiner died riding his bicycle, the Joliet Police Department's detective unit received notification from one of Joliet's most prominent criminal defense lawyers. At 3 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2024, attorney Jeff Tomczak of Tomczak Law Group was at the front desk of the police station.

"I was to meet with Tomczak who had information regarding the fatal hit and run that occurred ... at 2:57 a.m. in the 200 block of South Larkin Avenue," Joliet Police Detective Brad McKeon wrote in his report. "When I arrived at the front desk, I met with Tomczak and his associate, Attorney Anna Rose Bertani ... Tomczak presented me an envelope from the Tomczak Law Group that was addressed to the Joliet Police Department Traffic Division. Tomczak said the envelope contained a copy of a driver's license and Tomczak also explained that the vehicle used could be located at an address in Morris, IL. Tomczak said the owner would grant consent to take possession of the vehicle that was in the garage. Tomczak also said he spoke to ASA Jim Long and ASA Trish McKenna of the Will County State’s Attorney Office."

Joliet Police Photograph Hit And Run Driver's Vehicle

At the Joliet Police evidence garage, officer Michael Matutis took several photos of the black Buick Lacrosse involved in the hit-and-run fatality. The officer noticed a shattered windshield, broken passenger side mirror and headlight damage.

The officer spotted a red stain on the shattered windshield and a red stain on the front quarter panel bumper area. The officer took two swabs on the stains in hopes of recovering the victim's DNA. Hairs and fibers found within the shattered windshield were also photographed by the Joliet police officer.

Meanwhile, another officer, Nicholas Szalinski, obtained a search warrant for his agency to impound the hit-and-run vehicle as part of its continuing criminal investigation. The officer's chemical tests applying Bluestar detected the presence of hemoglobin on the passenger side front quarter panel, the inside area of the damaged front passenger side headlight, under the hood on the passenger side and the damaged area of the windshield.

"I also photographed insurance documents, the vehicle registration, and a bill of sale for this vehicle that were all located within the glove box of this vehicle," Szalinski wrote. "Upon opening the vehicle, I could smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from the interior of the vehicle.

"Located on the front driver floor board was a black, plastic piece of a vehicle’s side-view mirror. Located on the front passenger floor board was a vehicle’s passenger side-view mirror’s mirror. With Officer (Ryan) Johnson present, I photographed the black plastic sideview mirror piece next to this vehicle’s passenger-side view mirror which was missing the plastic cover. The piece from inside the vehicle appeared to match the missing piece to this vehicle. I did the same with the mirror which also appeared to match."

Additionally, Szalinski noted in his police report, "after photographing with the BLUESTAR, I did swab under the vehicle hood where the BLUESTAR illuminated for possible DNA ... While the hood was up, I observed small reddish pieces of paint under the hood, near the damage on the passenger side. I observed the paint to be similar to the color of the victim’s bicycle that was recovered on scene that I had previously assisted in processing. I collected multiple pieces of the reddish paint located under the hood and entered them into evidence ..."

No Criminal Charges Filed Against The Driver

At the three-month mark of Shiner's hit-and-run death, the Joliet Police Department and Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow have not filed any charges against the drive who crashed into Shiner, ended his life, and drove off in the middle of the night.

"This hit and run crash continues to be under investigation," Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English notified Joliet Patch on Friday.

As for Shiner, he was riding along one of Joliet's busiest streets, Larkin Avenue, in the middle of the night, on a weekend, at a time when many people are on their way home from the bars.

"Shiner did have several lights on his bicycle. It appears that Shiner was not wearing a helmet, according to traffic investigators," English said.

Shiner Was Regular Presence At Sumbaum Cycle

October's untimely death of Donny Shiner shocked the Joliet bicycle community, according to Ted Sari and other employees at Joliet's Sumbaum Cycle. The bicycle shop is also located along Larkin Avenue, less than a mile from the location of Shiner's fatality.

Employees at Sumbaum Cycle told Joliet Patch that Shiner often visited the bicycle shop more than once a week. He was also known for having several lights on his bicycle, and he preferred to cycle Joliet's roads without a helmet.

"A lot of people knew him, he was super nice, a positive guy," remarked Ted Sari, owner of Sumbaum.

The men who work at Sumbaum said that "Donny" was known "as a bit of a free spirit."

He rode an incredible number of miles on his bicycle every year, probably in the neighborhood of 10,000, according to Sumbaum Cycle. They said it was quite common for Shiner to be out riding along Joliet's streets at 2 or 3 a.m.