Legal Question in Criminal Law in Illinois

A 24-year-old Waukegan man has been charged with leaving the scene of the Sunday night accident that killed an Aurora woman on South Lake Street in Aurora.

The Kane County state's attorney's office said Frederick Washington, of the 2200 block of Christian Avenue, was driving north on Lake Street at 8:38 p.m. Sunday when he struck and killed Patty Kuntz -- leaving her body in the middle of the busy street's crosswalk as he fled the scene and drove all the way back to his Waukegan home.

Responding officers could not find any witnesses to the crash, but narrowed in on Washington when he called police several hours after the accident to inquire about Kuntz's condition.

An officer persuaded Washington to turn himself in, at which time Aurora police drove to Waukegan and picked up Washington and his passenger, a 31-year-old female who fled with Washington.

During questioning, Washington told officers that his car was rear-ended and knocked into the 45-year-old Kuntz. Prosecutors said Washington used a crowbar and hammer to damage his vehicle in an attempt to corroborate his story.

Washington later admitted the rear-end crash never happened, prosecutors said.

Besides being charged with leaving the scene of the crash, he also is charged with obstruction of justice and driving on a suspended license.

Washington's passenger was released without charges.

Washington's bond was set at $50,000 Tuesday in Kane County Circuit Court.

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