A resident of Palatine is confined to his home with electronic monitoring after he allegedly drove the wrong way on Palatine Road in Wheeling about 2:15 a.m. Sunday morning, December 10, 2023, causing a head-on, high speed crash that killed a teacher who worked at Wauconda High School.
Guillermo Salgado, age 28, allegedly drove his white Toyota Camry at a high rate of speed, eastbound in the westbound lanes of Palatine Road and crashed into a Ford Edge driven westbound by Robert Gillen, age 53, and was also a resident of Palatine. Robert Gillen, who was a teacher and athletic trainer at Wauconda High School, was pronounced dead at the scene after paramedics from Wheeling Fire Department and Prospect Heights Fire Protection District arrived.
Firefighters and paramedics on scene at fatal wrong-way crash on Palatine Road east of Wheeling Road in Wheeling (Cardinal News). YouTube Tips ⓘ
MCAT investigation of fatal wrong-way crash on Palatine Road east of Wheeling Road in Wheeling (CARDINAL NEWS). YouTube Tips ⓘ
At the crash scene, the two destroyed vehicles were located about 450 feet apart — separated by a field of debris of vehicle metal and plastic and a separated wheel. The Toyota Camry was driven so fast by Guillermo Salgado, that after the crash impact, the sedan continued east the distance of a football field and another half of a football field, while missing a wheel. After impact, the Ford Edge spun around the wrong way and came to rest on Palatine Road aligned with Charles Drive, which does not intersect with Palatine Road. The white Toyota continued eastbound 450 feet and stopped near a railroad overpass.
Gillen was sitting dead or dying in the driver’s seat of the Ford Edge. Guillermo Salgado was seriously injured in the Toyota Camry. Paramedics transported Salgado to Level 1 Trauma Center Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.
When he was released from the hospital eighteen days later, he was arrested at Lutheran General Hospital and transported in custody to the Third District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows.
Guillermo Salgado, of Palatine, Illinois appeared before Judge Sauceda at 9:30 a.m. on December 28, 2023 at the Third District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows to face Reckless Homicide and Aggravated DUI charges stemming from the fatal traffic crash.
Judge Sauceda reviewed a Petition to Detain as filed by the Cook County State’s Attorney, but chose to release Salgado under several conditions along with home confinement with electronic monitoring. Salgado is allowed to leave his house with a medical appointment exception.
Saldago’s next court date is January 26, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 108 of the Third District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows.
Investigation by Wheeling Police Crash Investigators and the Northwest Suburban Major Case Assistance Team – Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) unit revealed that Guillermo Salgado was driving the Toyota Camry when he entered the westbound lanes of Palatine Road at the intersection of Wheeling Road. He traveled against the flow of traffic in the wrong lane. Allegedly, he also proceeded to exceed the posted speed limit, continuing east before striking the Ford Edge operated by Robert Gillen of Palatine.
A subsequent investigation revealed Salgado’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) was in excess of the legal limit of .08 at the time of the crash.
The crash caused the death of Robert Gillen, according to the Wheelng Police Department and the Cook County Medical Examiners Office.
An additional passenger in each car suffered minor injuries.
Bob Gillen, 53, of Palatine was born January 6, 1970 in Chicago. He was a teacher and athletic trainer for 27 years at Wauconda High School, and was an avid sports fan of the Bears, Cubs, Bulls and former longtime honor caddy at North Shore Country Club in Glenview.
Memorial donations may be made in Bob’s name to Second City Canine Rescue, 570 N. Smith St., Palatine IL 60067 or www.sccrescue.org/donate/.
A Celebration of Bob’s life was held on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Hwy., Palatine.
Suburban HS teacher killed in crash remembered as ‘caring, dedicated’ (Tre Ward/ABC 7 Chicago) YouTube Tips ⓘ
Bob Gillen, dedicated Wauconda H.S. teacher, remembered by staff and students in a CBS Chicago published before Guillermo Salgado was arrested (Charlie De Mar/CBS Chicago). YouTube Tips ⓘ
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