Man held on $100,000 bail in wreck that led to amputation of woman's hand

Arley Romero was driving too fast when he caused a rollover crash on the southbound Dan Ryan late Friday night, prosecutors said Sunday in Cook County bond court.

While Romero, 21, of Chicago, walked away from the wreck without injury — and fled the scene — the 59-year-old woman whose vehicle was hit was not as fortunate.

She was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where her left hand could not be saved, authorities said. The hand had to be amputated, Assistant State’s Attorney Luz Toledo said.

Romero, who was charged with a felony for fleeing the scene of the accident, was ordered held on $100,000 bail by Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil. Additional charges may still be filed against him, prosecutors said.

About 10:20 p.m. Friday, motorists reported seeing a car speed by. Then they saw Romero’s car hit the woman’s vehicle near 87th Street, prosecutors said.

Her vehicle flipped and both autos came to a stop. Witnesses said they saw Romero “run” to the woman’s vehicle. But once authorities arrived on the scene, he fled, prosecutors said.

Illinois State Police ran the license plate on Romero’s wrecked vehicle. Two hours later, troopers tracked him down at his McKinley Park home and arrested him.