20-Year-Old Injured While ‘Car Surfing’ Dies

July 3, 2011 11:53 AM

(Credit: CBS)

Filed under

Local, News

Don't Miss This

Pinball, Beer & Arcade Games: Check Out Chicago's Pinball Alley

Best Mini Golf In The Chicagoland Area

Best Burgers In Chicago: Paradise Pup

Don't Miss This

Pinball, Beer & Arcade Games: Check Out Chicago's Pinball Alley

Best Mini Golf In The Chicagoland Area

Best Burgers In Chicago: Paradise Pup

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. (STMW) – A 20-year-old man injured when he apparently fell from the roof of a vehicle while “car surfing” Thursday night has died. Three teens have been charged with reckless driving in connection to the incident.

Police say the 20-year-old man was riding on the exterior trunk and roof of a Dodge Neon and a 2002 Chevy Impala in a Wal-Mart parking lot at 1205 S. Rte. 31 in Crystal Lake about 11:30 p.m. Thursday.

He fell from the roof of the Impala, struck the pavement and sustained trauma to his head, a release from Crystal Lake police said. He was taken to Centegra Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry, where he was listed in critical condition.

The man, Austin Watts, of Hoffman Estates, died Saturday, according to the McHenry County Coroner’s office. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday morning, a deputy coroner said.

Investigators learned Watts had been car surfing — riding on the rooftops of vehicles — before he fell from the car driven by 19-year-old Stephen D. Gallagher of Schaumburg, a release from police said.

Gallagher, Eva M. Carlock of Crystal Lake and a 17-year-old girl were simultaneously driving their vehicles in a “reckless manner” in the parking lot, police said. All three were arrested.

Carlock, 18, of 1365 Gardina Lane in Crystal Lake was charged with misdemeanor reckless driving, reckless conduct and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, the release said. She was released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court on July 19.

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

Gallagher, of 1806 Hemlock Place in Schaumburg, was charged with misdemeanor reckless driving and felony reckless conduct involving great bodily harm, the release said. He was taken to the McHenry County Jail to await a bond hearing.

The Crystal Lake Police Department’s Targeted Response Unit is investigating.

20 Year Old Injured While Car Surfing Dies

tom Sharp

An obvious Darwin Award finalist!!!

cc i told you so

The act itself was due to ALL agreeing not just the three left alive. should they be prosecuted YES. All other races especially the foreigners and blacks usually get harsher punishments even for jay walking or for just being a different color or race.. …. The real problem with america today from the leaders to the people No one wants to take real responsibility for their actions…. It’s as if we are in the past and the crime and consequences don’t match… When are we going to learn our lessons that our choices have consequences and bad ones like the one they play usually ends in a movie deal or death or both….

Fast Ed

Kids will be kids! Fun, fun, fun til the daddy take the keys away. Hopefully the media will play this one to the fullest, so as to educate other kids, and perhaps save a life. My condolences to the families involved. Not clear why the cops have to be so hard on the other kids. They are traumatized enough. No need to destroy their lives any worse. Private property – leave those kids alone!!!!!

OLD VET

A FAST ED; DONT YOU THINK THAT BECAUSE THEY ALL WERE DOING DRUGS OR HAD PARAPHANAIA ON THEM THAT THEY SHOULD’NT GET SOME SLAP ON THE A– AT LEAST ??? LEAVE THEM ALONE? TO DO WHAT, RECKLESS DRIVING ON THE ROAD NEXT AND KILL SOMEONE ??

Enough with the caps

I hope they run you over for typing in all caps. Why do old people do this?

Roberta Waker

Kids? Leave them alone? Drugs turned them into idiots that could have killed someone on the road instead of the parking lot . What if small children were playing in the parking lot? If they didn’t drive, he wouldn’t have been able to ride and might still be alive. They are all guilty and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and their licenses revoked. Don’t reward stupidity.

Margaret

18, 19, and 20 year-olds are NOT kids, they’re adults in every sense of the law (and I’m sure they considered themselves quite grown-up, as well). The cops weren’t being “hard” on the drivers; they charged them according to their actions which ultimately led to a death. Poor judgement is no excuse for stupid behavior especially given the consequences.
VIP Cook County

MANSLAUGHTER … 3rd degree murder should be charged against all those participants that assisted in this person’s death due to illegal activities including reckless driving and participation of reckless endangerments of individuals both direct and indirect participants, and innocent bystanders. Their licenses should be suspended and/or revoked.

kwal

The 20 year old put himself on the roof of that car. Everyone does stupid things when they are young that could result in serious injury or worse.

Roberta Waker

Everyone on drugs??? If the drivers hadn’t allowed him to surf on their cars he would still be alive. They are guilty as charged.
SCOOP

HOW ABOUT SOME NEW NEWS! tHE STORIES HERE ARE FROM YESTERDAY-WHAT NOBODY GOT SHOT OR STABBED LAST NIGHT?
bitney

STUPID IS STUPID DOES AT LEAST HE LEARNED HIS LESSEN