An Algonquin motorcyclist has been charged with reckless homicide for his role in a high-speed June 11 street race that ended with the death of 49-year-old Piotr Klimczak of Palatine.

Kasper

According to a report from the Elgin Police Department, Klimczak was street racing at 5:52 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, against Matthew Kasper, 26, of Algonquin, traveling south on Route 31 (State Street) near Wing Street in Elgin, when Klimczak’s motorcycle crossed the center line and collided with a northbound 2005 Honda SUV.

Klimczak was critically injured and transported to Presence St. Joseph Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Follow-up investigation was conducted with assistance from West Dundee police, during which officers determined that Klimczak and Kasper had been street racing at speeds calculated between 88 and 114 mph, leading up to the fatal crash.

Police said Kasper had left the scene when emergency responders arrived at the crash site.

Kasper was taken into custody on Tuesday (July 23, 2019), after the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the facts and authorized the following charges:

• One count of motorcycle vehicle accident involving death, a Class 1 felony.
• One count of reckless homicide, a Class 3 felony.
• One count of aggravated street racing, a Class 4 felony.
• One count of speeding 35 mph or more over the limit, a Class A misdemeanor.

(CREDIT: Google Maps)

Kasper appeared July 23 in Kane County bond court. Kane County Judge Keith Johnson set his bail at $50,000 with 10 percent ($5,000) to apply for bond.

Johnson set Kasper’s next court appearance for 9 a.m. Aug. 15, 2019, in Courtroom 217 at the Kane County Judicial Center.

“We remind everyone that speeding is dangerous,” said Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley. “Already in 2019, there have been seven traffic crash fatalities in Elgin, some of which include speed as a factor. We want you, and those you share the road with, to arrive at destinations safely.”

An arrest is not evidence of guilt. All defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The intersection of Route 31 (State Street) and Wing Street in Elgin. (CREDIT: Google Maps)

SOURCE: Elgin Police Department, Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office news releases

Elgin Police Department Facebook Post

Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office Facebook Post