Driver In Deadly Lake Forest Crash Charged With Reckless Homicide

LAKE FOREST, IL — Nearly six months after a fiery crash on Route 41 left a young mother dead, prosecutors approved 13 felony counts against the car's driver, Lake Forest police announced.

Christopher L. Lewis, 31, of the 2110 block of Joppa Avenue, Zion, faces felony counts of reckless homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs and a combination of drugs at the time of the fatal one-car crash, according to police and court records.

Around 4 a.m. on March 29, a speeding northbound Buick sedan left the road around the bend past Westleigh Road near the railroad viaduct when it struck several trees, rolled down an embankment and caught fire, police said.

Three of the car's occupants survived and were taken to local hospitals. But Sierra Riley, 20, of Zion, died at the scene. She was survived by her 1-year-old son, according to an obituary from her family.

Police said Lewis had amphetamines and alcohol in his system, with toxicology tests showing his blood alcohol concentration was above the legal limit of 0.08. Investigators believe Lewis was going significantly faster than the 45 mph speed limit at the time of the crash, according to Lake Forest police.

The DUI charges were upgraded to felonies because of aggravating factors; the crash was fatal and Lewis had at least three previous convictions for driving under the influence. Lewis was also driving without a valid license at the time of the crash and had multiple convictions for that offense, according to the charges.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Lewis Sept. 20 and arrested him Saturday at a home in Gurnee, police said. Records show he appeared before a judge Sunday, who ordered him held at Lake County Jail in lieu of the $75,000 cash portion of his bond ahead of a bond review hearing Wednesday.

Earlier:

• Victim Identified In Deadly Lake Forest Crash
• 1 Dead, 3 Injured In Fiery Rollover Crash In Lake Forest