Man Extradited From Poland 6 Years After Fatal Wheeling Crash

WHEELING, IL — A man accused of causing a Wheeling crash that killed two people more than six years ago has been extradited from Poland and returned to Illinois to face reckless homicide charges, police announced Friday.

Sebastian P. Kuczek, 46, was taken into custody by Wheeling police at about 8:45 p.m. Thursday, after arriving at O'Hare International Airport earlier that evening, according to the department.

Kuczek faces two counts of reckless homicide, both Class 2 felonies, in connection with the June 23, 2020, crash on Lake Cook Road near Northgate Parkway.

RELATED: 2nd Driver Killed In Fiery Wheeling Crash

Police said Kuczek left the United States and traveled to Poland before charges were filed. Wheeling police later worked with the FBI and INTERPOL to arrange his extradition.

Kuczek arrived at O'Hare at about 6 p.m. Thursday and was initially taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He was then transferred to Chicago police before Wheeling detectives took custody of him later that night, according to police.

Two Killed In 2020 Crash

The crash happened at about 7:40 p.m. June 23, 2020, when police responded to a three-vehicle collision on Lake Cook Road near Northgate Parkway.

Two vehicles were found on the roadway, while a Jaguar XJ driven by Kuczek was found off the south side of Lake Cook Road, police said.

Arthur Matillano was pronounced dead at the scene. Brenda Felix-Soria was taken by Wheeling firefighters to Glenbrook Hospital in critical condition and later died from her injuries.

Patch reported at the time that Matillano, 62, was from Buffalo Grove and Felix-Soria, 49, was from Inverness. One of the vehicles was fully engulfed in flames, and a third vehicle was found in a nearby tree line during the initial response. Patch's 2020 coverage

Matillano was driving home from his job as a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier when the crash occurred, according to Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, the law firm that represented his family in a wrongful-death lawsuit.

The firm said Kuczek's Jaguar struck Matillano's vehicle from behind at more than 152 mph, sending it into oncoming traffic. It also said Kuczek was transporting the Jaguar from a Wisconsin auto auction to a suburban dealership on behalf of Fast Cars Transportation Inc. at the time of the crash. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard release

Matillano's family reached a $12 million settlement in the civil case in March 2022, according to the firm. Matillano was survived by his wife of more than 35 years and four adult children.

Police Allege Reckless Driving

Wheeling police said their investigation determined Kuczek had been operating the Jaguar recklessly, at an excessive speed in rainy conditions and without a valid driver's license.

Investigators allege his driving caused the three-vehicle crash and the deaths of Matillano and Felix-Soria.

The department's account does not specify Kuczek's exact speed. The more than 152 mph figure comes from the law firm that represented Matillano's family in the civil case.

Kuczek was scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday at the Cook County Third Municipal District courthouse in Rolling Meadows.