Surf's up at Walmart

It take only a moment for an impulsive act to lead to severe consequences. I had not heard the term "car surfing" before reading a newspaper article about this incident at the Crystal Lake Walmart. How do we ever get kids, young adults and, yes, adults to think about what they are about to do. "Is this a good decision?" How do we get people to ask that question? (Original article edited at 1:40PM)

The Crystal Lake Police Department issued the following press release.

    On June 30^th, 2011 at 11:30 pm, Police responded to the Wal-Mart parking lot located at 1205 S. Rt. 31 for a subject who had reportedly fallen and struck his head. Upon arrival police discovered that a twenty year old male, Austin Watts of 1969 Governor’s Lane, Hoffman Estates, IL had fallen from the roof area of a moving vehicle and struck his head on the pavement in the parking lot.   

    Further investigation revealed the Watts had been riding on the rooftops of two vehicles before he fell from a vehicle driven by Stephen D. Gallagher (19), of that a 2002 Chevrolet Impala, operated by Stephen D. Gallagher of Schaumburg, a 2000 Dodge Neon, operated by Eva M. Carlock (18) of 1365 Gardina Lane, Crystal Lake and a 2002 Dodge Caravan, operated by a (17) year old juvenile female of Crystal Lake, were simultaneously operating their vehicles in a reckless manner while in the parking lot.

1806 Hemlock Place, Schaumburg, IL

. Traffic Crash Investigators were called to the scene and determined

    Austin C. Watts (20) of Hoffman Estates was riding on the exterior trunk and roof areas of the Dodge Neon, and then the Chevy Impala.  During the reckless maneuvers being conducted by the drivers, he fell off of the roof of the Chevy Impala, impacted the pavement and sustained trauma to the head.  Austin Watts was transported by ambulance to Centegra’s Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry where he was listed in critical condition. No other injuries were reported by any of the other parties present at the scene.

    Eva M. Carlock was charged with misdemeanor Reckless Driving, Reckless Conduct and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; she posted bond and was released with a court date of 07/19/11. The seventeen year old, juvenile female was petitioned into juvenile court on the charges of Reckless Driving and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and subsequently released to her parents. Stephen D. Gallagher was charged with misdemeanor Reckless Driving and Felony (Class 4) Reckless Conduct involving great bodily harm.  He was later transported to the McHenry County Jail to await a bond hearing.

    This incident remains under investigation by Accident Investigators of the Crystal Lake Police Department’s Targeted Response Unit.