2 people dead, 4 critically injured in Homer Glen crash

HOMER GLEN — Two people died and four others were severely injured in a three-vehicle crash Tuesday evening in Homer Glen, police said.

Kathleen Repsis, 73, and Adrian Spaargaren, 77, died as a result of the accident. They were passengers in a Hyundai that was struck head-on by a Nissan SUV driven by Chris Haramija, 37, of Joliet, who also suffered injuries in the crash, according to a news release from the Will County Sheriff’s Office.

Haramija was cited for improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and transportation of open alcohol, police said.

About 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to the crash that occurred on 143rd Street, just west of Hillcrest Road, in Homer Glen, police said. The area is about 10 miles northwest of Joliet.

A preliminary investigation revealed Haramija was driving his Nissan SUV on 143rd Street when he went into oncoming traffic and struck a Lincoln SUV driven by a 55-year-old man, police said.

The 55-year-old man refused medical treatment on the scene, police said.

Following that crash, Haramija’s vehicle then struck a Hyundai head on, causing that vehicle’s engine compartment to catch fire and engulf it in flames, police said.

An unidentified 49-year-old woman driving the Hyundai suffered extensive injuries, police said. She was taken to a local hospital and then to another hospital in Chicago for further treatment.

Repsis, one of the woman’s passengers, was pronounced dead at the scene, the coroner’s office said. Spaargaren was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, where he died.

All three occupants of the Hyundai were family members from Orland Park, police said.

Haramija has been hospitalized with multiple injuries, police said. A 41-year-old man and a 33-year-old man who were passengers in his Nissan SUV, also suffered multiple injuries, police said.

Haramija was jailed Sept. 29 on charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm, reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

Haramija was accused of shooting at two women in Mokena who declined to help him free his truck after it got stuck in the mud, Will County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said.

Prosecutors sought a $500,000 bond, but Judge Brian Barrett set it at $10,000. Haramija was released from jail three days later.

On Oct. 21, prosecutors dropped the charges against Haramija. Representatives from the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to a message about the case.

James Stanula, Haramija’s attorney in the case, declined to comment.