Huntley Man Charged With DUI in Fatal Sun City Crash

HUNTLEY, IL - An 84-year-old Huntley man faces a drunken driving charge in a crash into a home that injured a woman who has since died, authorities said Wednesday.

Donald F. Helfer, of 12388 Black Oak Trail in Huntley, has been charged with aggravated DUI causing great bodily harm, a class 4 felony, in connection with the crash into a home within the Sun City Retirement community in Huntley at about 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 4.

Police said he drove his 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis through a yard and struck the residence in the 13300 block of Honeysuckle Drive.

Mary Ann Arneson, 75, of Huntley died on Sunday, the Northwest Herald reports. Arneson and a male resident were initially taken to Centegra Hospital in Huntley after Helfer's vehicle crashed into the bedroom of the home.

Arneson was later flown to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge for further treatment of her injuries, according to authorities. Her obituary claims she died on April 9 from injuries sustained in an accident.

Helfer was the only person in the vehicle at the time of the crash and was also taken to Centegra Hospital in Huntley.

It's unclear at this point if upgraded charges will be filed against Helfer, the Northwest Herald reports.

"This case is still under investigation and we are reviewing the charges," Assistant State’s Attorney John Gibbons, chief of the Criminal Division at the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office, told the newspaper.

Helfer is currently free from jail after he posted 10 percent of his $15,000 bail.

Arneson is survived by her husband, John Arneson. The couple had been married for 55 years at the time of her death. Arneson, formerly of Marshall, Minn., taught elementary school for 28 years and piano lessons in her home for nine years, according to her obituary.

She moved to Sun City in Huntley in 2005 and was a member of Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir and volunteered. She also participated in many clubs at Sun City, according to her obituary.

Memorial services will be conducted on Tuesday, April 18, at Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church in Huntley. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. with services at 11 a.m.

Photo caption: Donald Helfer/Photo credit: Huntley Police Department