Algonquin man who struck a pedestrian in a hit-and-run incident out on bail
ALGONQUIN — On Aug. 12 at approximately 9:09 p.m., the Algonquin Police Department began receiving 9-1-1 calls regarding an accident that had occurred involving a motor vehicle having struck a pedestrian at the intersection of Route 62 and S. River Road.
The initial reports indicated that a 25-year-old female from Lake in the Hills was struck by what was described as a “small dark SUV,” while attempting to cross the street.
Upon arrival on scene, authorities observed the female victim laying in the roadway. It was also discovered that the reported suspect vehicle had left the scene following the accident.
The dark SUV was described as possibly being a Chevrolet Equinox, according to Algonquin Police Department Sergeant Jason Burzynski.
The female victim sustained serious injuries as a result of having been struck by the unknown SUV and subsequently was transported to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital via ambulance. Authorities later stated in an Aug. 13 update, that the female victim was in stable condition.
Following the incident, officers were able to develop information through their investigative efforts that eventually led them to the 500 block of N. Harrison Street. It was there that a dark-colored Chevrolet SUV was located with damage consistent with being involved in the reported hit-and-run accident.
Algonquin Police Officers were able to view the suspect vehicle in the rear parking of an apartment complex and were able to contact a 33-year-old female Algonquin resident who revealed to law enforcement that she was the passenger in the vehicle that was involved in the accident being investigated.
Burzynski stated that the female suspect identified the driver of the suspect vehicle as 38-year-old Paul J. Epifanio also of Algonquin.
Epifanio was taken into custody on an unrelated outstanding arrest warrant regarding three pending charges of major traffic offenses, according to McHenry County Court records.
After having been arrested, Epifanio was transported to the Algonquin Police Department where he later admitted to driving the vehicle that struck the female victim from Lake in the Hills.
Epifanio was charged with the following:
One count of leaving the scene of an injury crash, a Class 4 felony; one count of failure to report an accident; a Class 2 felony; one count of not having a valid driver’s license, a Class B misdemeanor; one count of improper use of registration, a Class C misdemeanor; one count of having expired registration, a petty offense; one count of failure to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk, a petty offense; one count of failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash, a petty offense; and one count of having unsafe tires, a petty offense.
Epifanio was later transported to the McHenry County Adult Correctional Facility in Woodstock, but as of Aug. 14, was released from custody after posting bond for the unrelated traffic charges that resulted in the outstanding arrest warrant.
McHenry County Court records indicate that Epifanio is due to be back in court on Aug. 17 for his preliminary and bond hearings concerning the charges for the hit-and-run incident.
