Des Plaines Driver's Bar-Hopping Ended In Crash That Killed Family: Report

DES PLAINES, IL — Hours before the fatal crash that claimed his life, the driver responsible for the tragic collision in February that also killed an Arlington Heights couple and their eldest daughter had been bar-hopping with a friend, drinking to excess, harassing female customers and starting fights, according to the accident investigation report by Des Plaines police. Investigators determined the crash to be a reckless homicide, but because the driver — Piotr Rog, 21, of Des Plaines — was dead, no charges will be filed, the Daily Herald reports.

Rog was driving his Mercdes-Benz 135 mph when he hit the Chevrolet Impala carrying Kevin and Anita Crawford and their daughter, Kirsten, 20, as they were turning in to the Lattof YMCA on Northwest Highway on Feb. 16. Rog and the Crawfords died in the accident, but a passenger in Rog's car survived and has remained hospitalized since the crash.

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Toxicology results released in April showed Rog had a BAC of 0.216 at the time of the crash. The legal limit in Illinois is 0.08. Kevin Crawford, who was driving the Impala, had no alcohol in his system at the time of the accident, police said.

According to the 84-page police report, Rog's family told investigators that he had been battling depression but that his mood was upbeat the day of the crash, the Herald reports. Rog also was prescribed three different medications for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, the report added.

Before the accident, witnesses told police and security camera videos show that Rog and his friend at two Des Plaines bars, the Miner Street Tap and the Tap House Grill, the report stated. At the Miner Street Tap, Rog was served one drink and continually harassed a woman, challenging her to an arm wrestling match and telling her they would eventually have sex, according to the report. The woman finally asked another couple to help deflect Rog's advances, the report added.

More Patch Coverage

Des Plaines Crash Kills Driver, 3 Arlington Heights Family Members: "The worst I have ever seen," police chief says about the 3-vehicle crash that shut down a stretch of Northwest Highway.

GoFundMe Page Raises Money For Surviving Kids Of Arlington Heights Family Killed In Crash: The money earned from the campaign will go toward the kids' future education.

Driver In Crash Killing A. Heights Family Members Should Have Had License Revoked In 2013: A 2013 ticket against Pitor Rog, 21, that would have immediately revoked his license was not reported until recently.

Driver Kicked Out Of Bar Before Crash Killing Arlington Heights Family: Piotr Rog was refused service before being asked to leave. Rog's blood-alcohol was nearly 3 times over the limit, police say.

The two men stayed at the bar for around 25 minutes before being kicked out by the bartender, the report stated. As he left, Rog punched another customer, the report added.

At the Tap House Grill, Rog and his friend caused another disturbance by harassing the women at that bar, the report stated. The two men were kicked out again, and they left without being served, the report added. The collision happened minutes after their departure, and a bottle of cinammon whiskey rolled out of the Rog's car when firefighters pulled him from the wreckage, according to the report.

Last month, police said no criminal charges would be filed against the bar servers. But Mayor Matt Bogusz told the Herald he hasn't decided if he will hand down any punishment against the bars in his role as Des Plaine's liquor commissioner.

Investigators interviewed the surviving passenger, but he told them he can't remember anything from the accident. Police also attempted to pull data from the "black box" of the Mercedes but were unsuccessful.

Rog had a history of traffic violations and had been ticketed eight times in his five years as a licensed driver. His Illinois drivers license had been suspended four times, the most recent suspension ending Jan. 19, less than six weeks before the crash.

Along with their eldest child who died in the crash, Kevin and Anita Crawford also were the parents of a 15-year-old daughter, Hailee, and a 9-year-old son, Christian, who were not involved in the accident. The Crawfords were headed to watch Hailee's soccer match when the accident happened. The surviving children now live with their grandparents.

A GoFundMe campaign was created by the parents from the schools the two children attend. The money earned is to help Hailee, a Prospect High School sophomore, and Christian, a Windsor Elementary fourth-grader, fund their future educations. So far, the campaign, which started with a goal of $10,000, has raised more than $135,000.

More via the Daily Herald

The Crawford family (from left) Hailee, Anita, Kirsten, Christian and Kevin. (screen shot via GoFundMe)

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