On Friday, Judge Timonthy M. Lucas, Tazewell County Circuit Court, began hearing testimony in a hit and run accident that killed a Creve Coeur teenager in April 2008.
Todd C. St. Cerny 17, of Creve Coeur was struck and killed along I-474 on April 25, 2008.
Truck driver Ross T. Kindelberger, 51 of McLean, was charged with failure to report an accident involving a death, which is a Class 2 felony. Kindelberger originally told authorities that the thought he hit a deer. Later in his interview with police Kindelberger admitted that it could have been a person and that he was afraid to go back and check.
Eric Tibbs, Assistant State's Attorney, said a woman driving on the same road saw a shoe on the side of the road. On her return trip, she stopped to investigate and found St. Cerny's body in a grassy area. Evidence found at the scene included pieces from a white semi truck with a partial indentificaiton number.
The Illinois State Police and the Creve Coeur Police conducted investigations at the accident scene and were able to trace Kindelberger's truck through an indentification number.
According to Kindelberger's attorney Jeff Flanagan, St. Cerny walked out into traffic and was hit by the semi.
No illegal drugs or alcohol were found in Kindelberger's system. Judge Lucas' decision will be made on May 15 at 2:30p.m.
Fadi Rustom, an attorney for the St. Cerny family, has advised them not to comment on the case.
