Felony Charges Now Filed—But Driver Still at Large—After September Crash That Killed Teen

Kane County authorities are asking for the public's help in finding Shannon Hill, the driver they believe fled the scene of a September accident on Plank Road that killed 17-year-old Lawrence Echols of Elgin and seriously injured another teenager.

Kane County sheriff's deputies completed their investigation into the , on Plank Road near Engel Road.

On March 15, 2013, sheriff’s detectives appeared before a Kane County grand jury that sanctioned a slew of felony and misdemeanor charges against Hill, whose last known address was in Elgin:

• Failure to report and accident involving death—a class 1 felony
• Failure to report an accident involving personnel injury—a class 1 felony
• 2 counts Aggravated DUI—a class 2 felony and a class 4 felony
• reckless homicide—a class 3 felony
• DUI—class A misdemeanor
• Speeding more than 40 mph over the speed limit
• Improper lane usage

An arrest warrant was issued for Hill, and his bond has been set at $100,000. Sheriff's Department spokesman Pat Gengler said.

Anyone with information on Hill’s whereabouts is encouraged to call 911 or sheriff’s detectives at (630) 444-1103

The initial investigation showed that a 2007 Lincoln MKZ was traveling west at what appeared to be a high rate of speed. The vehicle crossed the center line and eventually left the roadway on the south side of Plank Road, then rolled several times and struck a tree.

The driver—now identified as Hill—and front seat passenger fled the crash on foot. The two back-seat passengers had to be extricated from the car. One of the back-seat passengers, Echols, was pronounced dead on the scene and the other was flown by helicopter to Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, with non-life threatening injuries.

SOURCE: Kane County Sheriff's Office