GURNEE, Ill. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 34-year-old Gurnee man on June 17 following a series of hit-and-run crashes that culminated in a fiery collision that critically injured a 5-year-old girl.
Reno J. Giangiorgi faces multiple charges including DUI-related offenses, hit-and-run, fleeing and eluding police, and causing bodily injury. The incident began at approximately 5:50 p.m. when deputies responded to a hit-and-run involving a red pickup truck in the Grandwood Park area near the 36000 block of Grandwood Drive.
The same vehicle struck a second car near a gas station before fleeing again. A deputy spotted the pickup driving erratically and initiated a low-speed pursuit.
Giangiorgi sideswiped two vehicles during the chase, injuring one person. Deputies attempted to stop the truck at Hunt Club Road and Grand Avenue, but the vehicle escaped. The pickup struck a sign near Washington Street and Route 21 and continued southbound at high speed.
At the intersection of Gages Lake Road and Milwaukee Avenue, the pickup ran a red light and T-boned a Honda SUV. The collision also involved a third vehicle.
The Honda’s occupants included an adult female driver and three children. A 5-year-old girl was ejected from the vehicle and critically injured but later stabilized. A 2-year-old girl and 16-year-old male cousin also suffered injuries.
All Honda occupants were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries except the 5-year-old. One person from the third vehicle was also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Deputies stopped Giangiorgi’s truck and took him into custody. The crash ignited a fire that firefighters quickly extinguished. Gurnee Fire Department and Libertyville Fire Department responded to extricate victims and treat the injured.
Giangiorgi sustained minor injuries and was transported to a hospital. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office continues investigating the multi-vehicle incident.
