Gregory Shaer
A motorcyclist faces a felony driving under the influence and other charges stemming from a crash Saturday night near Antioch that left his passenger critically injured.
Gregory Shaer, 51, of the 25000 block of West Blackstone Place near Lake Villa, is charged with aggravated driving under the influence, driving under the influence and driving in the wrong lane of traffic, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s police said deputies responded at about 8:30 p.m. to the crash scene at Route 59 and Diemer Street located a downed 1998 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a 43-year-old Antioch woman unconscious and unresponsive in the roadway.
The woman, who was a passenger on the motorcycle, was flown by helicopter to Advocate Condell Hospital in Libertyville with critical, life-threatening injuries, officials said.
Shaer initially told deputies he was driving the motorcycle south on Route 59 and swerved to avoid striking a vehicle that turned in front of him, causing him to lose control of the motorcycle, authorities said.
However, deputies later spoke with a 33-year-old Antioch woman who said she was driving north on Route 59 when the motorcycle swerved into her lane of traffic and sideswiped her SUV, officials said. Evidence at the scene was consistent her account, according to the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff’s deputies also detected signs of alcohol impairment from Shaer, who was not seriously injured, officials said. He was arrested, but refused to provide breath, blood, or a urine sample for analysis, sheriff’s police said. A search warrant obtained and Shaer was taken to a hospital, where the samples were obtained and sent to a crime laboratory for analysis, officials said.
Records show Shaer remained in custody Sunday at the Lake County jail.