WHEELING, IL (DDN) – Following a two-month investigation, an arrest has been made in a deadly vehicle accident in November in which a Northbrook man died of his injuries.
Julian Ramirez, 30, of the 300 block of West Grand in Chicago, has been charged with reckless homicide and aggravated use of an electronic communication in connection with the crash on November 6, 2024.
Michael Szpisjak, 49, was hit by Ramirez’s car while driving a crippled vehicle. He was brought by Wheeling firefighters to Advocate Condell Hospital in Libertyville, where he died from his injuries.
Ramirez was arrested on Wednesday and is being held in home confinement under special circumstances, according to authorities.
On the day of the incident, Szpisjak was the sole passenger of a disabled car parked in the westbound, middle lane of Lake Cook Road when he was struck by Ramirez’s 2022 Audi Q5.
The “thorough” investigation was undertaken by Wheeling police with the assistance of the Major Case Assistance Team’s Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction section. Ramirez was driving at 59 mph in a 45 mph zone when he rear-ended Szpisjak’s 2008 Smart vehicle.
Further investigation by Wheeling traffic officers revealed that Ramirez was using his cell phone at the time of the accident. Evidence from his vehicle’s event data recorder revealed no signs of braking or speed reduction previous to the crash.
Reference: Driver On Cell Phone In Fatal Crash That Killed Northbrook Man: Police
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