Man Who Struck 2 Workers On I-80 Can Leave Illinois

JOLIET, IL - A 36-year-old Florida motorist who struck two workers in a night time construction zone last month along I-80 has obtained permission from a Will County judge to leave the state of Illinois. Court documents show that Gary D. Rollins was looking at his cellular phone as he sped along I-80 late at night on July 27. Near Briggs Street, Rollins lost control of his Ford pickup, striking two of the workers, Ricardo Leon, and Timothy Ahern, according to court records. Rollins has been charged in Will County Circuit Court with a aggravated reckless driving, a felony, and reckless conduct, a misdemeanor.

At last week's arraignment before Will County Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes, Rollins entered a standard not-guilty plea. More importantly, his defense attorney Kevin Bolger of Chicago persuaded the judge to change the conditions of his client's bond. Rollins hails from Crystal River, Florida. The judge agreed to let Rollins return to his native state of Florida as his criminal case remains pending back in Will County. The judge also agreed with the defense attorney's request asking that the Illinois State Police, the lead agency investigating the crash, return all of Rollins' personal property that was inside of his truck at the time of his arrest in late July.

According to court documents, Rollins "caused great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement" to Leon and "bodily harm" to Ahern at the time of his crash in Joliet Township.

To read more Patch articles about this case:

• Two I-80 Workers Struck By Man On Cell Phone: Police
• Driver Who Hit 2 I-80 Workers In Joliet No Longer In Jail

Booking mugshot via Will County Sheriff's Department