Sheriff: Deadly Crash was Intentional

A 22-year-old Round Lake Beach man remains in McHenry County Correctional Facility Aug. 16 on a $1 million dollar bond after being charged with reckless homicide and first-degree murder Aug. 15 because authorities believe the crash was no accident.

Luis E. Ramirez, driving a 1997 Ford Expedition, collided head-on with a 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander driven by 38-year-old Woodstock resident Sonia Hume on Aug. 5, police said. 

According to , Ramirez was traveling westbound on Tryon Grove Road at about 7:17 a.m. about one-eighth of a mile east of Barnard Mill Road. He went into the eastbound lane to pass two vehicles when he collided with Hume who was traveling in the eastbound lane. 

Hume was pronounced dead at the scene. Ramirez was transported to in McHenry with injuries to his torso and legs, said Undersheriff Andrew Zinke. 

Ramirez was released from the hospital after a week.

Zinke did not share details of the investigation, only saying it was extensive and determined the crash was intentional and not an accident. Ramirez and Hume did not know each other.

Zinke said Ramirez was in a legal passing zone and was traveling at a speed of about 60 m.p.h. He was driving without a valid driver’s license and had insurance on his vehicle. 

Police did not observe Ramirez to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident, Zinke said, and the department is still awaiting test results for substances. 

The Sheriff’s Office Traffic Crash Investigation Unit conducted an investigation which included additional interviews which led to the charges against Ramirez.

Seat belts were used by both drivers and airbags were deployed in both vehicles as a result of the impact.

Ramirez was advised of his rights by Judge Charles Weech in McHenry County Courthouse Aug. 15. His next court date is Aug. 19.