Following an extensive investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Team, the driver of the GMC SUV that struck and killed a female bicyclist in September 2024 has been indicted by a Lake County Grand Jury.
Lake County Sheriff’s crash investigators determined Alex Landa, 33, of the 700 block of Franklin, Winthrop Harbor, was responsible for striking and killing bicyclist Tiana Smith, 18, of Zion. Initially, Landa’s booking photo was not available.
On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, a Lake County Grand Jury was presented with testimony on the evidence gathered during the investigation. The Lake County Grand Jury indicted Landa on one count of failure to report a crash involving death (class 1 felony) and one count of aggravated DUI causing death (class 2 felony).
Following the direct indictment, a Lake County Judge signed a warrant for the arrest of Landa.
“No family should have to endure such a tragedy, and we hope these charges bring them the first measure of justice. I commend our crash investigations team for their tireless efforts in ensuring the driver was held accountable. Their dedication to uncovering the truth and seeking justice for victims is a testament to their professionalism and commitment to our community’s safety.”
— Sheriff John D. Idleburg
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
— Lake County Sheriff Sheriff’s Office
Lake County Sheriff’s Traffic Crash Investigators investigated a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred late night Friday, September 6, 2024 in Wadsworth on Dilleys Road near the Gold Pyramid and south of Wadsworth Road.
Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched about 11:45 p.m. Friday, September 6, 2024, to a report of a ‘person down’ on Dilleys Road just south of Wadsworth Road. Lake County Sheriff’s deputies arrived and located an adult woman deceased in the roadway. The woman sustained significant trauma, consistent with being struck by a vehicle.
Based on a preliminary investigation, sheriff’s crash investigators believe the woman was riding a bicycle northbound on Dilleys Road, when she was struck from behind by a northbound black or dark GMC SUV. When she was struck, she was thrown from the bicycle, and the bicycle became lodged under the SUV. With the bicycle lodge under the GMC, the driver fled from the scene. The woman was then struck by a southbound Hyundai Elantra, driven by a 23-year-old man of Waukegan. The driver of the Hyundai was cooperative with the investigation.
Information was received from a witness who saw a GMC SUV dragging a bicycle while eastbound on Wadsworth Road from Delaney Road. The vehicle was identified and located parked at a residence in Winthrop Harbor by 12:40 a.m. Saturday. The vehicle had damage consistent with being involved in the hit-and-run crash, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle was seized, and crash investigators have identified the suspected driver of that vehicle as a 32-year-old man of Winthrop Harbor. The identity of the suspect was not initially released.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene, and immediately worked to identify the woman and scheduled an autopsy.
The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Team and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced that criminal charges will be sought following the conclusion of their investigation.
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