Driver charged in deadly Deer Park crash that killed elderly man

DEER PARK, Ill. (WGN) - A man has been arrested and charged in connection with a crash in Deer Park in January that left an elderly man dead. The Lake County (Ill.) Sheriff's Office said at around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, sheriff's deputies were on their way to the intersection of Lake Cook Road and Quentin Road to help with a disabled vehicle when they were told of a serious crash that had just happened at the same intersection. Deputies arrived at the intersection and found a 95-year-old man, identified as Richard Krzysztofiak of Palatine, dead in the roadway, along with two heavily damaged vehicles, according to the sheriff's office. Authorities said the preliminary investigation revealed Krzysztofiak was driving a 2006 Honda Accord westbound when it broke done in the westbound lane of Lake Cook Road, just east of Quentin Road. Witnesses told detectives Krzysztofiak got out of his vehicle and starting looking under the engine area. While he was under his car, a westbound 2024 Honda HR-V, driven by 30-year-old Ryan Rinda of Cary, hit the Honda Accord from behind, killing Krzysztofiak. Rinda and his passenger were taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries, as was Krzysztofiak's passenger. A school bus at the intersection was also sideswiped during the crash. The bus driver was the only person on board at the time and was not injured, according to investigators. On Wednesday, June 3, the sheriff's office announced Rinda was under the influence of cocaine at the time of the crash and was believed to have been driving over 50 mph just before hitting the Honda Accord. Rinda was arrested on June 3 at his Cary home and has been charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs causing death, two counts of aggravated DUI while license revoked and reckless homicide.