Less than a year after three girls were struck and killed in a hit-and-run accident in Crete Township, the Illinois House on Friday passed a bill that would crack down on hit-and-run drivers.
The measure would increase penalties for those convicted in such cases to a maximum of 14 years in prison from the current 3 years and would reduce to one hour from three hours the amount of time motorists have to report an accident with injuries to police.
Drivers convicted of a hit-and-run accident also would be unable to renew their driver’s licenses for three years after the first offense and would increase to five years from three years the renewal period for a second offense.
Rep. George Scully (D-Flossmoor), who sponsored the bill, said lawmakers were not satisfied with the current penalties for hit-and-run accidents.
“Obviously this won’t have an impact on the current case, but I hope that the families will get some solace that we’re trying to improve the law for the future,” Scully said.
Cari Sanaghan, 11, Sheena Acres, 12, and Courtney Lauer, 12, were killed by a hit-and-run driver last May while they were walking along a dark, rural road in Crete. Sanaghan’s twin sister, Sarah, was sideswiped in the accident and suffered minor injuries.
Richard Devon, 42, of Crete Township is awaiting trial on four counts of failure to report an accident involving personal injury or death and two counts of obstructing justice. Each of the charges carries a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison.
The Senate has already sent the House a similar version of the bill.
In other action Friday, the House, as expected, overwhelmingly defeated legislation that would have turned the express lanes on the Kennedy Expressway into car-pool lanes during the hours of 7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Lawmakers voted 70-32 to reject the measure sponsored by Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago).
“This is an attempt, popular or not, to reduce that congestion (on the regular lanes of the Kennedy). This is a good idea,” Fritchey said.
But opponents said it would do nothing to help clear up traffic congestion since it would utilize existing lanes of the Kennedy.
“This idea has been used in California and others, but they plan for it. They create extra lanes of traffic to handle (car-pool) lanes. We won’t be doing this,” said Rep. Bill Black (R-Danville).
House lawmakers also sent the Senate a measure that would require many health insurers in the state to pay for annual mammograms for women 40 years of age and older.
