Schaumburg police have released the identity of the driver that caused a fatal crash while fleeing a property damage hit-and-run crash that occurred at Springinsguth Road and Dedham Lane.
Michael J. Owsiany, age 19, of Elk Grove Village, was fleeing southbound on Springinsguth Road in a blue 2009 Honda Civic when he hit a maroon 2006 Mitsubishi Galant at the south intersection of Springinsguth Road and Hartmann Drive.
The high-speed crash, which occurred at about 7:06 p.m., killed the driver of the Mitsubishi Galant at the scene. The driver of the Mitsubishi Galant was identified as Erin Semerad, age 39, of Schaumburg. She was making a left turn from eastbound Hartmann Drive to northbound Springinsguth Road. The intersection is at the crown of a small hill. Owsiany’s Honda Civic was traveling at high speed up the small hill when it hit the Mitsubishi Galant primarily at the driver’s side door.
Both vehicles traveled about 90 feet southbound along Springinsguth Road about 90 feet. The Galant was pushed to the parkway on the east side of Springinsguth Road. The Honda Civic spun 180 degrees and came to rest facing northbound in the southbound curb lane of Springinsguth Road.
Both vehicles received severe damage from the crash. The Honda received severe front-end damage. The Mitsubishi received severe driver’s side damage. The B-post of the Mitsubishi appeared fractured at the roof from the crash, but may have been cut by a Hurst tool cutter during extrication. The cab or driver/passenger compartment received severe vehicle intrusion on the driver’s side.
The southbound Honda may have been difficult to see or may have been difficult to judge regarding the rate of approach because the Honda was rising up a small hill in darkness. A witness reported the Honda traveling at high speed before the crash.
Sunset on Sunday October 26, 2015 was 5:53 p.m. to 5:56 p.m. Darkness covered the area by the time of the crash at 7:06 p.m. with civil twilight ending at 6:25 p.m.
Erin Semerad was pronounced dead at the scene with traumatic injuries.
Owsiany was transported to Level I Trauma Center Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he was pronounced dead.
Owsiany’s passenger, Ashley E. Trenholm, age 23, of Schaumburg was also transported to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, where she was listed in critical condition Tuesday.
The crash prior to the fatal crash involved the driver of a 2011 Scion which was heading southbound on Springinsguth at 7:05 p.m. The driver of the Scion had slowed down to turn left onto Dedham Lane when the back of the vehicle was clipped by Owsiany’s Honda. The Honda then fled the scene at high speed.
VIDEO: Accident investigation by Schaumburg Police Department and the Major Case Assistance Team on Springinsguth Road at the south intersection with Hartmann Drive about 11:30 p.m.
Investigators are working to determine the speed of Owsiany’s vehicle prior to both crashes and at the time just before impact of the fatal crash. Sensors and event data recording in the Honda will hopefully provide engine speed, vehicle speed, brake status and other parameters.
Investigators will also determine whether drugs or alcohol were involved.
Schaumburg police are being assisted in the investigation of Monday’s fatal crash by the Major Case Assistance Team (MCAT) Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team.
Ashley Trenholm, the surviving passenger in Owsiany’s Honda Civic, was the driver in a DUI crash in October 2013 in downstate McClean County, Illinois. The crash caused cervical injuries that paralyzed her male passenger, Schaumburg resident Jesse Sternberg, who now uses a wheelchair.
Trenholm pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI after a 90 MPH crash on Interstate 74. According to Bloomington-based Pantagraph newspaper, the prosecuting attorney, Assistant State’s Attorney Ashley Scarborough, requested a 10-year prison term for Trenholm — reminding the court that Trenholm had a prior DUI arrest before the DUI crash on I-74.
Trenholm is scheduled to be sentenced for the aggravated DUI charge on Friday, October 30, 2015.
In another strange coincidence, Sunday’s crash is the second serious crash at Springinsguth Road and Hartmann Drive in less than a month. Owsiany’s Honda Civic came to rest near a house that was involved in a crash on a Sunday three weeks ago.
Monday’s fatal crash occurred near a house on Springinsguth Road that was struck by a car about 3:30 a.m. Sunday, October 4, 2015. A 2013 Nissan Sentra crashed through a wall at the corner of the garage at the house on the west side of Springinsguth Road, and ended up in the living room. The crash hit a gas line and caused a gas leak. The driver fled the scene on foot and has not been identified. No residents in the home were injured.
Schaumburg Fire Station 3 crews were first on the scene at both crashes.
See also …
Pantagrph DUI victim: ‘It’s a lifelong sentence for me’
Stay informed with news from The Cardinal’s Emergencies Behind the Scenes Facebook page — Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies. Includes links to favorite public safety and emergency rescuers and product manufacturers and safety companies that have facebook pages. Submit your pictures or just stay up-to-date on with fire, rescue, EMS and police photo galleries. Please add your public safety photo to the wall album — go direct to the Arlington Cardinal Emergencies Behind the Scenes photos. For a list of all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages, go to Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …