A months-long investigation into a deadly spring collision in Gurnee has ended with felony charges for the 27-year-old driver accused of hitting and killing a pedestrian, then leaving the scene.
The April 2, 2025, crash near Delany Road left 33-year-old Amber Knowles dead and set off an intensive probe by local crash teams. The new charges mark the first major criminal step in a case that has weighed heavily on neighbors, first responders, and the victim's family.
Javier Contreras-Bulnes now faces two felony counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and one felony count of aggravated use of an electronic communication device causing death, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Gurnee police say the counts stem from the April 2 collision near Delany Road and Sunset Avenue and that investigators concluded distracted driving played a significant role in the crash.
"This case represents a heartbreaking loss for the victim's family and loved ones," Gurnee Police Chief Jeremy Gaughan said, calling the crash a "difficult reminder of how dangerous distracted driving can be." He urged motorists to put their phones down and give their full attention to the road, according to FOX 32 Chicago.
Crash and victim
Gurnee police and fire units responded around 8:04 p.m. on April 2, 2025, to the 2100 block of North Delany Road after a report that a vehicle had struck a pedestrian. First responders found the victim unresponsive, and the person was pronounced dead at the scene, according to ABC7 Chicago.
The Lake County coroner later identified the victim as 33-year-old Amber Knowles, per ABC7 Chicago.
Investigation and community reaction
In the immediate aftermath, officers shut down Delany Road for several hours while the Major Crash Assistance Team documented the scene and collected evidence, the Daily Herald reported.
Neighbors and family members later gathered for a candlelight vigil, and residents organized an online fundraiser to help support Knowles' family during the investigation and its long wait for answers, according to reporting by Lake and McHenry County Scanner.
What the charges mean
Under Illinois law, using an electronic communication device in a way that leads to a fatal crash can be elevated to aggravated use and charged as a Class 4 felony, according to the Illinois Vehicle Code.
Drivers who fail to stop and render aid after a crash that causes injury or death face enhanced felony charges and the possibility of license revocation under the state's crash statutes, per the Illinois Vehicle Code.
The charge announcement ends months without visible public movement in the case and starts the next phase, as prosecutors and investigators review the full file. Gurnee police say the probe remains active and are asking anyone with additional information to contact the department.
