Members of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Team conducted an extensive investigation into this crash, which resulted in the death of Michael Brennan, then 53, of the 36400 block of Hawthorne Lane, Ingleside. The investigation included a detailed examination and analysis of the scene, interviews with witnesses, vehicle inspections, reviewing materials obtained via subpoena, and more.
The investigation revealed as the driver of the Chrysler, Brian J. King, 40, of the 35500 block of Tami Lane, Ingleside, was traveling northbound on Route 59, a witness called 911 to report King was swerving off the roadway while driving. As King approached Stanton Point Road, he continued swerving out of his lane of traffic and struck the pedestrian, Brennan, who was walking on grass and gravel next to the shoulder.
Brennan was initially transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in critical condition, but subsequently died of his injuries on June 16, 2021.
King was found to have numerous drugs in his system, which were in his system at the time of the crash, causing him to be impaired while driving.
After reviewing all of the evidence and facts surrounding this crash, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the following charges:
Aggravated Driving with Any Amount of a Drug in Breath, Blood, or Urine (Class 2 Felony)
Aggravated DUI Causing Death (Class 2 Felony)
Reckless Homicide (Class 3 Felony)
An arrest warrant was issued on April 11, 2022, and a Lake County Judge set the bond amount at $500,000.00. King was arrested without incident at his residence later in the day on April 11, 2022. Following a hearing this morning, King remains held in the Lake County Jail on $500,000.00 bail. He is next due in court on May 2, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom T020.
Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “This was a completely preventable tragedy which took the life of an innocent person, because someone made the careless and selfish decision to drive impaired. I am proud of the tenacious effort put in by our traffic crash investigators to bring charges against the offender. I am also thankful for the witness who not only called 911, but stayed at the scene to provide a statement to traffic crash investigators. I hope this conclusion brings the first steps of closure to the Brennan family.”
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Pedestrian in Critical Condition Following Ingleside Traffic Crash (issued 6/4/2021)
On June 3, 2021, at approximately 6:40 p.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic crash on Route 59 at Stanton Point Road, Ingleside. Sheriff’s deputies arrived and located a black Chrysler 300 and a critically injured 53-year-old man of Ingleside who was struck by the Chrysler.
Preliminary investigation shows the Chrysler, driven by a 39-year-old man of Ingleside, was traveling eastbound on Route 59 in the area of Stanton Point Road (in this particular area, Route 59 runs east and west). The pedestrian was in the same area, walking on the south shoulder of Route 59. There are no sidewalks on Route 59 in this area.
For an unknown reason, the driver of the Chrysler veered onto the southern shoulder. The Chrysler struck the pedestrian and the pedestrian sustained major injuries as a result.
The pedestrian was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville in critical condition. The driver of the Chrysler was uninjured.
Sheriff’s office traffic crash investigators continue to investigate and are working to determine if impairment or distraction were factors in the crash.
The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Unit.