The law enforcement involvement in the March 4 car crash on Honeysuckle Drive in Sun City has been resolved, but another part remains in limbo.
At about 11:30 p.m. that evening, a vehicle was driven off the roadway at Hemmer Road and Del Webb Boulevard and crashed into a bedroom at the rear of a home in the 13300 block of Honeysuckle Drive in N14. The driver of the vehicle, who was alone in his car, and the occupants of the home were injured and hospitalized. Mary Arneson died of her injuries on April 9 after a lengthy stay at two hospitals. Her husband, John, has recovered from his injuries.
After a six-week investigation into the cause of this incident, police announced on April 12 that a charge of aggravated DUI (drunken driving) causing great bodily injury, a class 4 felony, was lodged against the driver, Donald F. Helfer, of 12388 Black Oak Trail, Sun City. He was released on a $15,000 10% bond and is scheduled for an April 26 court date in McHenry County Court.
This discovery sparked a strong demand from many Sun City residents for the erection of barriers at the Hemmer-Del Webb intersection. Shortly after the accident, some Huntley village officials indicated this possibility was being studied.
