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player ready...A man from unincorporated Zion has been charged with reckless homicide nearly a year after a Lindenhurst crash that killed Grayslake North cheerleader Haylie Winiewicz and her father last August.
Christopher Romano, 33, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Lake County Circuit Court to three counts of reckless homicide and one count of aggravated reckless driving resulting in bodily harm, according to defense attorney Jed Stone.
The crash occurred Aug. 29, 2015, at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Route 45 in Lindenhurst, killing Haylie Winiewicz, 15, and her father Christopher Winiewicz, 50, both of Lindenhurst.
According to Lindenhurst police, a Nissan, which officials have since said was being driven by Romano, was traveling north on Route 45 when it struck a Kia, driven by Haylie’s sister, Ashley Winiewicz, as the Kia was turning left onto Grand Avenue from southbound Route 45. The Kia then crashed into a pole on the northeast corner of the intersection, police said.
Ashley Winiewicz and two men in the Nissan were hospitalized for treatment after the crash.
Autopsies determined the cause of death for both Haylie and Christopher Winiewicz was multiple traumatic injuries due to a motor vehicle collision, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office.
Romano was indicted on the charges June 22. Officials with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office said Thursday they are not releasing further details regarding the charges against Romano at this time.
Romano is scheduled for a pretrial hearing Sept. 13, with an initial trial date scheduled for Nov. 14. He is free from custody on a $10,000 bond after bail was set at $100,000.
The double fatality drew an outpouring of grief from the community and high school students, with hundreds attending a wake in Gurnee for the father and daughter.
Mourners filled St. Patrick Church in Wadsworth for a double funeral for the two.
In a statement read by a family friend at the funeral, Haylie’s mother, Gina Winiewicz, made a wrenching promise to her late husband Christopher: “You take care of Haylie, and I’ll take care of Ashley.”
Twitter @jimnewton5