Man Charged in Crash That Killed Son Lake County Sheriff’s Traffic Crash Investigators concluded the investigation into the November 26, 2024, traffic crash that took the life of 5-year-old Sy’mere McKnight, of Zion.

Lake County Sheriff’s Traffic Crash Investigators concluded the investigation into the November 26, 2024, traffic crash that took the life of 5-year-old Sy’mere McKnight, of Zion.

Crash investigators concluded Steven McKnight, Jr., 25, of the 900 block of Countrywood Drive, Zion, was driving under the influence of cannabis and recklessly at the time of the crash. McKnight, Jr. did not have his two-year-old son or five-year-old son in any sort of restraining device while driving. Both children sustained horrific injuries, and unfortunately, the injuries were fatal for Sy’mere.

Crash investigators reviewed their concluded investigation with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office who approved the following charges against McKnight, Jr.:

Two Counts of Aggravated DUI Causing Death (Class 2 Felonies)

Reckless Homicide (Class 3 Felony)

Endangering the Life of a Child Causing Death (Class 3 Felony)

Four Counts of Aggravated DUI (Class 4 Felonies)

McKnight, Jr., was arrested at his home on July 24th by sheriff’s deputies and members of sheriff’s SWAT.

Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “This crash was not an accident, it was the result of reckless, impaired driving that took the life of an innocent five-year-old child, severely injured another child, and seriously injured an uninvolved motorist who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is absolutely no excuse for putting children, or anyone, at risk. Our hearts are with Sy’mere’s family as they continue to grieve an unimaginable loss.”

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain McKnight, Jr. while awaiting trial. The Court granted that petition and McKnight, Jr. was remanded to the Lake County Jail pending his next court date of August 7, 2025.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Fatal Traffic Crash Involving Young Children

Lake County Sheriff’s Traffic Crash Investigators are continuing to investigate a tragic crash on Tuesday evening that claimed the life of a young child.

On November 26, 2024, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a serious traffic crash on Green Bay Road, just north of Hart Street in Beach Park. Upon arrival, deputies found a Chevrolet Malibu and a GMC Sierra involved in a head-on collision.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the Chevrolet Malibu, driven by a 24-year-old Waukegan man, was traveling southbound on Green Bay Road. Witness statements indicated the Chevrolet driver was illegally passing other southbound vehicles by driving in the northbound lanes. While traveling in the wrong lane, the Chevrolet collided head-on with the northbound GMC Sierra, driven by a 57-year-old man of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.

The driver of the GMC sustained serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The driver of the Chevrolet also sustained serious injuries and required extrication from his vehicle by fire department personnel. A two-year-old boy, seated on the driver’s lap, suffered critical injuries and was transported to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago for treatment.

Before being transported to a hospital, the Chevrolet’s driver told deputies that no one else was in the vehicle. However, deputies later discovered a critically injured five-year-old boy beneath debris behind the driver’s seat. The five-year-old was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Preliminary findings suggest neither child was properly secured in a child safety seat at the time of the crash.

The investigation is ongoing, and appropriate criminal charges will be pursued.