A Cary-area man is facing a slate of felony charges after Lake County investigators concluded he was under the influence of cocaine and speeding when he rear-ended a disabled car in Deer Park on Jan. 13, killing a 95-year-old driver.
Ryan P. Rinda, 30, was arrested June 3, 2026, and charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs causing death, reckless homicide, and two counts of aggravated DUI while his license was revoked. He was taken into custody at his unincorporated Cary home and was due in Lake County court later that day.
Charges And Arrest
According to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, crash investigators say Rinda was under the influence of cocaine and driving more than 50 mph shortly before slamming into a stopped Honda Accord. The Lake County State's Attorney's Office approved the charges, which include two counts of aggravated DUI causing death, reckless homicide, and two counts of aggravated DUI while Rinda's license was revoked.
Investigators obtained an arrest warrant on April 24. Deputies served that warrant the morning of June 3 at Rinda's residence in unincorporated Cary, the sheriff's office said.
Crash And Victim
The deadly collision unfolded around 3:15 p.m. on Jan. 13 at Lake Cook Road and Quentin Road. Deputies had initially been dispatched to the intersection for a disabled vehicle before the crash occurred.
The victim was identified as 95-year-old Richard A. Krzysztofiak of Palatine. An autopsy determined he died from blunt-force injuries, according to the Lake County coroner. Two vehicles were heavily damaged in the wreck, and several people were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, as reported by the Daily Herald.
Investigation And Context
Coverage from FOX 32 Chicago notes that a school bus was sideswiped during the crash sequence, though no life-threatening injuries were reported. The Lake County Sheriff's Technical Crash Investigations Team is still working through the details of how each impact occurred.
Local reporting indicates investigators spent months waiting on toxicology results and speed analyses before moving forward with the felony charges that were filed this week.
What The Charges Mean
Under Illinois law, the felonies Rinda faces carry different potential prison terms. A Class 2 felony generally carries a determinate sentence of 3 to 7 years, a Class 3 felony typically carries 2 to 5 years, and a Class 4 felony carries 1 to 3 years, with extended-term penalties possible in some circumstances. Any eventual sentence would depend on the exact counts of conviction, statutory factors, prior criminal history, and the judge's findings, according to the Illinois Compiled Statutes (730 ILCS 5).
Next Steps
Rinda was scheduled to appear in Lake County court on June 3, 2026. The sheriff's office said detectives will continue to work with the State's Attorney's Office as the prosecution moves forward.
The crash remains under active investigation by the Lake County Sheriff's Office Technical Crash Investigations Team, and anyone with information is urged to contact investigators, according to the sheriff's media release.
