Shorewood Woman's Death On Black Road: Driver Learns His Sentence

SHOREWOOD — More than four years after 19-year-old Joliet motorist Christian Rodriguez crashed his car into Shorewood pedestrian Joni Hilger, ending the 66-year-old woman's life along the Shorewood portion of Black Road, the current Rockdale resident has taken responsibility for his actions and pleaded guilty to one felony.

Court records show Rodriguez reached a plea agreement with the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow. At Rodriguez's sentencing on Oct. 30, Will County Judge Carmen Goodman did not order the now-23-year-old defendant to serve any additional time in custody.

Instead, Will County's judge gave Rodriguez 30 months of probation plus credit for 180 days jail time already served. He must also provide the judge with proof that he will attend a victim impact panel discussion at some point in the future, as a condition of his probation.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty to aggravated use of an electronic communication device. His second charge of reckless conduct was dismissed as part of his plea bargain.

Back in early 2022, Joliet Patch reported that Rodriguez faced two felony charges in connection with the June 4, 2020, death of Shorewood pedestrian Joni Hilger. The 66-year-old woman was killed while she was hit by a car along Black Road. The Shorewood woman died as she was out for a late morning walk on June 4, 2020.

Hilger died while she was crossing Black Road when she was struck and killed by the Joliet teenager, who was on his cell phone at the time of her death. The Shorewood woman was killed when she was hit by the car on eastbound Black Road west of Edgebrook Drive. Hilger, who lived nearby, was pronounced dead at 1 p.m., the Will County Coroner's Office said at the time.

Rodriguez was 19 years old at the time of the traffic fatality. Back in 2022, Will County Judge Roger Rickmon ordered Rodriguez to pay $2 million to the family of Joni Hilger to resolve the Hilger family's wrongful death lawsuit they filed against him.

"It's a very sad case, and it's compounded by a young man who didn't have any insurance to compensate the family of his actions," Joliet attorney Frank Cservenyak told Joliet Patch at the time of the judge's verdict.

Judge Rickmon issued his ruling against Rodriguez by Thomas Hilger and other surviving family members of Joni Hilger. Their lawsuit was filed by Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol.

Nowadays, Rodriguez lives on South Midland Avenue in Rockdale, his court files show.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Shorewood Crash Victim's Family Awarded $2M By Judge

Joliet Man Charged In Shorewood Woman's Black Road Death

Obituary: Joni Hilger