A motorist was so concerned to see two drivers racing down Golf Road in Hoffman Estates that he pulled up behind one of the cars, snapped a photo of its license plate with his cell phone, then called police.
Moments later, one of the speeding cars rolled over into oncoming traffic and struck another vehicle, killing both drivers, authorities said.
The other driver involved in the Jan. 27, 2011, impromptu race kept going, but the witness who had called police before the crash stopped and turned over his photo of the 2002 Subaru Impreza’s license plate.
On Tuesday, the owner of the car appeared in Cook County court in Rolling Meadows to face felony charges of aggravated street racing and leaving the scene of a fatal crash.
Timothy Salvesen, 37, of Wheaton, was charged after police traced the license plate in the photo to his vehicle, then conducted a lengthy investigation of the 7:30 p.m. crash on busy Golf Road near Bartlett Road.
Killed in the crash were 32-year-old Joseph Paliokaitis of North Aurora, who prosecutors said appeared to be racing with Salvesen as both drove west on Golf Road at speeds that two witnesses estimated at 80 to 90 mph.
The speed limit on that stretch of four-lane road was 55 mph, Assistant State’s Attorney Maria McCarthy said during Salvesen’s bond hearing Tuesday.
As the two westbound lanes merged into one, Paliokaitis apparently lost control of his 2003 Jaguar and rolled into eastbound traffic, striking a 2001 Hyundai Tiburon head-on.
The crash killed its driver, 62-year-old Migdalia Bloch. of Hoffman Estates, who was on her way home from work, McCarthy said.
Salvesen’s attorney said his client, an accountant who has no prior criminal record, will fight the charges that could send him to prison for up to 15 years.
“It’s an unfortunate situation and Tim maintains his innocence,” defense attorney Henry Samuels said.
Salvesen previously had been ticketed three times – in 2003, 2008 and 2009 – for speeding or following another vehicle too closely, McCarthy said.
A judge set bail for Salvesen at $100,000. He likely will post bond Tuesday, his attorney said.
