Homicide Charge Added to Car Surfing Case

The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office has added felony reckless homicide to charges against 19-year-old Stephen D. Gallagher. 

The Class 3 Felony charge came in the wake of the death of a Hoffman Estates man who fell from Gallagher’s car June 30 during . 

Gallagher, of 1806 Hemlock Place, Schaumburg, had been charged with misdemeanor reckless driving and felony reckless conduct involving great bodily harm June 30 after Austin C. Watts, 20, fell onto the pavement at the Crystal Lake Wal-Mart located at 1205 S. Rt. 31. 

According to Crystal Lake Police, Watts was riding on the rooftops of two vehicles before he fell off of Gallagher’s car at about 11:30 p.m. He was transported to Centegra’s Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry where he remained in critical condition before succumbing to his injuries July 2. 

Gallagher initially was turned over to McHenry County Sheriff’s Office where he subsequently made bail on initial charges of felony reckless conduct involving great bodily harm and misdemeanor reckless driving. 

Gallagher was arrested on a warrant with the new charge in Hoffman Estates July 5 where bond was set at $50,000. He was released after posting bond there. 

Charges against drivers of other vehicles at the event remain the same, police said. Eva M. Carlock, 18, of Crystal Lake was charged with misdemeanor reckless driving, reckless conduct and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. She posted bond and was released with a July 19 court date.

A 17-year-old Crystal Lake girl was petitioned into juvenile court on the charges of reckless driving and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released to her parents.

Traffic crash investigators on the scene determined that vehicles operated by Gallagher, Carlock and the juvenile were simultaneously operating their vehicles in the parking lot in a reckless manner.

Watts had been riding on the exterior trunk and roof areas of Carlock’s car, and then Gallagher’s when he fell, police said. Investigators said his fall was due to the reckless maneuvers being conducted by the drivers while on the rooftop of Gallagher’s car.  He sustained head injuries from the fall to the pavement.

Police Chief David Linder said he had no idea how fast the cars were traveling in the parking lot and refused to comment about the specifics of Watt’s fall due to the ongoing investigation.

Blood samples have been sent to a lab to test for alcohol but Linder would not say whether testing for drugs would be conducted on the samples or whose blood was sent in.

“At this point there is no indication that there was alcohol involved, but we’re still waiting for test results,” he said.

Linder said he’s not aware of reports of car surfing incidents in the city, and asked anyone with information about them to contact police.

If police find there is car surfing activity in any area of the city, Linder said patrols may be stepped up.

Wal-Mart Spokesperson Dianna Gee expressed the corporation’s condolences to the Watts family.

“Our thoughts and prayers are definitely with the family of the young man,” she said.

Gee said this is the first incident of car surfing on Wal-Mart property she has heard of. She has spoken with the assistant manager at the Crystal Lake location, but did not know if the company plans to interview any other employees there.

“We have shared our surveillance video with the authorities in the hopes that they can help piece together the case,” she said.

Wal-Mart doesn’t have security firms at its many locations, she said. Instead, it works closely with local law enforcement to provide safety and security for customers and store associates.

Corporate officials will investigate the incident in Crystal Lake, she said. If warranted, additional security cameras or increased parking lot lighting may be implemented.

“We’re constantly evaluating our security and crime preventive measures on a store-by-store basis,” she said.