Driver says fatal hit-and-run possibly his fault, Mundelein police say
A man who believed he was involved in a hit-and-run accident that left a Mundelein bicyclist dead turned himself in to police Friday afternoon, authorities said.
The man was not identified by police, nor was he charged as of Friday night. He did not have a lawyer with him, Police Chief Eric Guenther said.
"Currently, we're talking to him and trying to piece this together," Guenther said.
The body of Carl H. Roderwald, 40, was discovered Thursday in some tall grass on the side of Route 83 just south of Route 176. His badly damaged bicycle was about 40 feet away, authorities said.
Roderwald's wife had reported him missing Thursday afternoon, Deputy Police Chief Don Hansen said. He had last been seen about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Crossroads of Ivanhoe Tavern in Mundelein.
Police used cellphone records to track Roderwald's whereabouts, and activity reports led them to the area where his body eventually was found.
The motorist who may have hit Roderwald thinks the accident occurred Wednesday night, authorities said. He came forward after seeing media reports about Roderwald's death.
"He indicates he thought he hit a deer and didn't see what he had hit," Guenther said.
Guenther called the man "very cooperative."
Police seized the man's pickup truck, a Ford pickup truck, and began examining it for evidence Friday afternoon.
"Damage to (the) vehicle we have is consistent with what we know from the accident," Guenther said in an email late Friday. "We are confident this is the vehicle and driver involved."
Still, no charges were filed Friday night pending further investigation and review by the Lake County State's Attorney's office, police said.
An autopsy revealed Roderwald suffered multiple injuries, Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd said. Toxicology test results are pending.
The Lake County Major Crash Accident Team is assisting with the investigation.
Mundelein police are asking anyone with information about Roderwald's death to call them at (847) 968-4600.