A 52-year-old Far South Side man was ordered held in lieu of $50,000 bail Friday for allegedly causing a deadly crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway and then leaving the scene of the accident.
William Winesberry faces felony counts of reckless homicide and failure to report an accident in Monday’s crash in the northbound lanes of Interstate 94 near 59th Street.
Katarina Goitz, 25, of St. Claire Shores, Michigan, was killed when Winesberry collided with the rear of her Hyundai Accent about 9:40 a.m. as she slowed with traffic approaching a construction zone, attempting to merge, Cook County prosecutors said.
Goitz was using her turn signal and there was no indication that Winesberry made any attempt to slow down or brake to avoid the crash, prosecutors said witnesses at the scene told investigators. One witnesses said it appeared as if Winesberry was traveling at least 75 mph when the crash occurred.
The crash sent Winesberry’s Ford Econoline van spinning into a Illinois Department of Transportation truck and forced Goitz’s Accent into a barrier wall, prosecutors said. After the crash, witnesses saw Winesberry get out of the van and run across traffic to the 55th Street ramp.
Goitz was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead shortly after, according to Illinois State Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy revealed she died from multiple injuries in the crash and her death was ruled an accident.
Winesberry, who lives at the London Towne House Co-op, turned himself in to state police the following day, prosecutors said. He was released from custody and then surrendered himself a second time on Wednesday at the state police’s request.
Defense attorney Dean Morask said Winesberry had been employed for 15 years as a lock operator at the T.J. O’Brien Lock and Dam on the Calumet River, has several children and close ties to his family and the community.
“My client is not someone who should be incarcerated,” Morask told Judge David Navarro.
Navarro noted that Winesberry allegedly fled the scene of the crash, but later turned himself in to authorities on two occasions. Navarro ordered Winesberry not to drive if he is able to post bond.
Winesberry’s next court date was set for July 16.
