Update: Pedestrian struck by vehicle in Huntley identified as a public figure in the car show community
HUNTLEY — As previously reported in My Huntley News, on Jan. 8 at approximately 3:09 p.m., officers from the Huntley Police Department and deputies from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the area of Main Street and Coyne Station Road for the report of a male victim that was struck by a vehicle while completing work along the roadway.
The victim has since been identified as 20-year-old Joseph “Joe” Zephries of Huntley. The Huntley Fire Protection District began administrating treatment for Zephries on scene, however, he was subsequently transported to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries, according to the Huntley Police Department.
Main Street between Charles Sass Parkway and Coyne Station Road was closed for approximately five hours on Monday evening as the Huntley Police Department and the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team (K-CART) conducted the preliminary investigation.
Authorities identified the vehicle that struck Zephries as a 2023 Kia Forte. The Kia was traveling eastbound on Main Street when it struck Zephries, who was on the south shoulder of the road completing utility line location services for the USIC (US Infrastructure Company).
The driver of the Kia was later identified as a 27-year-old Chicago man, who remained at the scene and has fully cooperated with law enforcement. At this time, drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in this incident, stated the Huntley Police Department.
No charges have been filed at this time, pending a full accident reconstruction investigation.
Zephries is better known by the car show community as Joe Piazza, the chief executive officer (CEO) and founder of Spade Society, an organization that refers to itself as the “largest weekly automotive show in the United States,” according to its website.
Founded in June 2020, Zephries and his team prided themselves in hosting weekly car shows, which were scheduled to return starting Tuesday nights in May 2024.
Many of Zephries’ online followers have taken to social media to voice their condolences.
“The Huntley Police Department extends our condolences to the families involved and our whole community as we grieve this loss,” said Huntley Police Deputy Chief Linda Hooten in a press release statement.
The Huntley Police Department would like to remind drivers that Scott’s Law, otherwise known as the “Move Over” law, requires motorists to slow down and move over, if possible, when approaching an emergency vehicle or any vehicle with their emergency or hazard lights activated on the side of the roadway.
