On Wednesday, Nov. 18, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Lombard Chief of Police Roy Newton announced that bond had been set for a Chicago man accused of killing a bicyclist with his car and then fleeing the scene of the crash. Norris Watt, 25, of Chicago, appeared at a bond hearing where Judge George Bakalis set bond at $250,000 with 10% to apply. Watt has been charged with one count of Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Accident (Class 1 Felony) and one count of Aggravated DUI (Class 2 Felony). The State had asked for a bond of $2 million with 10% to apply.
On Sunday, Nov. 15 at approximately 11:04 p.m., officers with the Lombard Police Department were dispatched to the area of Roosevelt Road and Stewart Avenue regarding a pedestrian that had been struck by a vehicle. Upon their arrival, officers found the victim, 41-year-old Troy Young, on his back near the northeast corner of Roosevelt Road and Stewart Avenue. Young was pronounced deceased at the scene. Officers further observed a deformed bicycle laying in the right lane of westbound Roosevelt Road.
It is alleged that prior to the 9-1-1 call, Watt was driving his vehicle westbound on Roosevelt Road near Stewart Avenue in excess of 80 mph when he hit Young with his vehicle. It is further alleged that after hitting Young, Watt failed to stop and drove away. At approximately 11:26 p.m., Oak Brook police officers reported they had stopped the vehicle suspected to be involved in the crash. Watt, who was allegedly driving the vehicle, was taken into custody at this time. Following an investigation into the crash, it is alleged that he had a combination of alcohol, ecstasy, amphetamine and cannabis in his system at the time of the crash.
“As I have said many times in the past, this case, like all alleged DUI cases, was 100% avoidable,” Berlin said. “With so many mind-altering substances allegedly in his system at the time of the crash, there is absolutely no reason why Mr. Watt should have been behind the wheel of a car that night. What I find particularly disturbing are the allegations that instead of rendering aid to his victim, Mr. Watt fled the scene, leaving a dying man behind.”
“I would like to express my sympathies to Mr. Young’s family on their loss,” Newton said. “Thanks to the cooperative efforts of the Lombard and Oak Brook Police Departments the alleged offender is now in custody. I would like to thank the MERIT Action Reconstruction Team for their work on this case as well as the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office for their legal assistance and filing the appropriate charges in this matter.”
Watt’s next court appearance is scheduled for December 4, 2020, for arraignment in front of Judge Bakalis.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt.
