Woman Charged In Crash That Paralyzed Bicyclist

VERNON HILLS, IL — A 25-year-old Elk Grove Village woman faces felony charges in connection with a collision that paralyzed a 60-year-old bicyclist from Grayslake in April.

Elisiana Serna was indicted Wednesday on two felony counts of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident for allegations she caused the April 27 crash, authorities said. Serna is accused of hitting the bicyclist with her sedan while traveling south on Butterfield Road near Golf Road at about 4:20 a.m. and then leaving the scene.

• Bicyclist Critically Injured In Hit-And-Run Crash
  

The bicyclist, a 60-year-old Grayslake man, was taken to Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with life-threatening injuries. He suffered paralysis and is now a quadriplegic, according to a news release from the Vernon Hills Police Department.

He is receiving ongoing care at a rehabilitation center, authorities said.

Investigators used a combination of witness statements, physical evidence left at the scene and images from an automated license plate reader camera in order to identify the dark-colored sedan and link Serna to the collision. Investigators also learned Serna may have left the scene because she thought she'd hit a deer, according to the news release.

Serna could face prison time if convicted on the charges. She is next expected in court on Nov. 1.