Hummer Hits Pedestrian in Downtown Geneva; Elgin Driver Faces Charges

A Hummer hit a pedestrian at the intersection of State and First streets in downtown Geneva, resulting in charges filed against the driver, Geneva police reports said.

Geneva police arrested Chad D. Swaggerty, 40, of Elgin on charges of driving without a proper license or permit and violating pedestrian’s right of way at a crosswalk after his Hummer H3 collided with a pedestrian around 11:25 a.m. March 6 at the intersection of State Street and South First Street, Geneva police reports said.

The pedestrian, Bruce Thomas, 24, of Geneva, was walking west on the sidewalk on the south side of the 0-99 block of West State Street when he stepped into the crosswalk and was struck by the Hummer, which was travelling north attempting to turn right onto eastbound West State Street, reports said.

Thomas told police the traffic signal had given him the right of way to cross First Street and said the driver of the Hummer was talking on his cell phone when the accident took place. Swaggerty denied talking on his cell phone, reports said.

Thomas refused medical treatment, reports said.

Swaggerty has a court date of April 23.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity in Geneva, using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime, or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member are charged with a crime or cited for a violation, and the charge or citation is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify Geneva editor Rick Nagel at rickn@patch.com and we will do follow-up reporting on the case.