DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, Woodridge Chief of Police Brian Cunningham and Lisle Chief of Police Kevin Licko announced today, Tuesday, August 8, 2023, that bond has been set for a Woodridge man accused of killing a person while driving drunk and leaving the scene of a fatal vehicle vs. bicycle crash on a residential street in Lisle in which he was allegedly involved on Sunday, August 6, 2023. Salil Chander, age 33, of the 4100 block of Nelson Court in Woodridge, appeared at a bond hearing this morning, Tuesday, August 8, 2023, where Judge Michael Reidy set bond at $1 million with 10% to apply. Chander is charged with one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Causing Death (Class 1 Felony) and one count of Aggravated DUI Resulting in the Death of Another Person (Class 2 Felony).
Woodridge police officers responded about 5:05 p.m. Sunday, August 6, 2023 to a 9-1-1 call reporting an allegedly intoxicated man walking around his house with a sword. At approximately 5:08 p.m., the caller notified officers that the individual, later identified as Chander, had left the home in a silver Kia. Allegedly, about one minute later, the Kia struck a light pole on Nelson Court and Chander continued driving to westbound Green Trails Drive. Allegedly Chander drove westbound in the block of 1900 Green Trails Drive in southeast Lisle near the border of northwest Woodridge when he veered into the eastbound lane on Green Trails Drive and struck sixty-four-year-old bicyclist Michael Norton of Naperville. Michael Norton died of his injuries. Chander allegedly continued to drive away after striking Norton and his bicycle with his vehicle. An eyewitness to the crash called 9-1-1, and Woodridge police officers were on the scene within ten seconds of the call.
Lisle-Woodridge firefighters and paramedics were dispatched to the scene at about 5:11 p.m. Paramedics were working a traumatic cardiac arrest at the scene. Michael Norton was transported with Advanced Life Support with extra paramedics onboard the ambulance to Level 1 Trauma Center Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, where he was pronounced deceased.
Woodridge police officers located Chander approximately three-tenths of a mile west of the crash scene near Green Trails Drive and Ridgewood Road where he was taken into custody.
Allegedly, at the time of the crash, Chander’s BAC was 0.222. Paramedics also responded to the Woodridge Police Department at 1 Plaza Drive for a report of a prisoner with minor injuries, apparently to assess Chander.
“The allegations that after he had been drinking and with a BAC of nearly three times the legal limit, Mr. Chander got behind the wheel of his car, hit an innocent bicyclist, launching him into the air over the vehicle, and then, instead of stopping to render aid, fled the scene, are horrific. In Illinois, if you are involved in an any type of accident, the law requires you to stop and report the accident.
Moreover, leaving the scene of a horrible crash that killed an innocent man, as alleged in this case, is not only illegal, but also inexcusable. I offer my sincerest condolences to Mr. Norton’s family and friends as they mourn the loss of a beloved family member and friend. I thank the Woodridge and Lisle Police Departments for their quick response and apprehension of the defendant in this case as well as DuPage MERIT Major Crash Reconstruction Team for their work on this very sad case. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorney Jaclyn McAndrew for her work in preparing a strong case against the defendant.”
— DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin
“This series of reckless acts will have long-lasting repercussions for a neighborhood, community, and multiple families. The pain and suffering for the Norton family is unimaginable, our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
Woodridge Chief of Police Brian Cunningham
“This is a tragic event that could have been avoided. Mr. Chander allegedly chose to drive while intoxicated, and now an innocent family has lost a loved one. My heart goes out to the Norton family.”
— Lisle Chief of Police Kevin Licko
Chander’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 1, 2023, for arraignment in front of Judge Reidy.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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