A Joliet man pleaded not guilty Friday to charges including reckless homicide in connection with a June 2022 three-vehicle crash in Homer Glen in which an Orland Park trustee was seriously injured and her parents killed.
Christopher Haramija entered the plea during an arraignment before Will County Judge David Carlson. He is to appear again in court Dec. 1.
Haramija was indicted in August on charges including aggravated driving under the influence in connection with the June 21, 2022 crash, which occurred on 143rd Street just west of Hillcrest Road.
Trustee Joni Radaszewski, who still uses a wheelchair and crutch, was in Carlson’s courtroom Friday, joined by family, friends and two fellow trustees.
“I trust the legal system will hold this man accountable for his actions and have him face the consequences of his negligent behavior,” she said after the hearing.
Haramija was driving a Nissan sport utility vehicle west on 143rd Street, then drove into the eastbound lane, according to police.
The Nissan first struck a Lincoln SUV, driven by a 55-year-old man who refused medical treatment at the scene, and then struck head on a Hyundai Sonata being driven east by Radaszewski, causing the engine compartment of her vehicle to catch fire and engulf into flames, police said.
Radaszewski’s father, 77-year-old Adrian Spaargaren, was in the front passenger seat of the Hyundai and her mother, Kathleen Repsis, 73, was in the back seat.
Spaargaren was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox and was pronounced dead at 9:30 p.m. the day of the crash, according to the Will County coroner’s office. Repsis was pronounced dead at the scene at 8 p.m., according to the coroner. Both were from Orland Park.
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Radaszewski suffered extensive injuries and was initially taken to an area hospital but was later transferred to a hospital in Chicago.
She was away from her role as a trustee for some time, and at a meeting in early July 2022 Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau noted her absence and briefly talked about the crash, saying she needed more time to recuperate before returning.
“She is going to need some time away,” the mayor said at the time.
After the crash, Haramija was charged with offenses including improper lane use, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and transporting open alcohol.
In citing the felony charge of reckless homicide, the indictment notes Haramija “performed acts likely to cause death or great bodily harm.”
Haramija crossed the double yellow line, indicating a no-passing zone, before colliding with the car the trustee was driving, according to the indictment.