Year: 2025

A Will County Board member and Democratic leader struck a child riding a bicycle in a crosswalk and drove off, Bolingbrook police reported, but no arrest has been made despite visible damage to her car.

The incident, occurring March 11, 2025, has ignited local fury and calls for accountability as details emerge from a police crash report.

Jackie Traynere, also the DuPage Township administrator, was behind the wheel at 7:50 a.m. at the intersection of Route 53 and Rockhurst Drive when the collision happened.

According to the Bolingbrook Police Department report cited by Edgar County Watchdogs, Traynere told officers she was stopped at a red light when the left-turn arrow turned green. She said she saw the child “fall off” his bike as she began her turn but “wasn’t sure” if she hit him. Traynere stopped briefly, checked on the boy, then left the scene. She reported the incident later that morning at the police station.

Officers noted a dent and large scratch on her car’s hood, damage Traynere did not explain, the report said. The child’s identity and condition remain undisclosed; police have not confirmed injuries.

Illinois law requires drivers in crashes involving injury to stay and report immediately, with leaving the scene a potential felony if harm is severe. Without confirmed injuries, it’s a misdemeanor, carrying up to a year in jail. Bolingbrook police issued no charges, declining further comment beyond confirming a “vehicle vs. pedestrian” incident.

Traynere, elected to the Will County Board in 2004 and a township official since at least 2019, did not respond to requests for comment. Her political stature—she’s a known Democratic figure in a county that backed Biden by 58% in 2020—has fueled speculation of favoritism. The police report offers no timeline for her station visit, leaving unclear if she met the 30-minute reporting window required by state law when injuries occur.

The story broke Monday, March 24, when Illinois Review and Edgar County Watchdogs published accounts based on the crash report. Illinois Review called it a “hit-and-run,” slamming the lack of arrest as “political privilege.” Edgar County Watchdogs demanded Traynere’s resignation, tying her $92,000 township salary to broader corruption claims. Neither outlet provided witness statements or injury specifics, though social media posts alleged onlookers saw the crash, claims unverified by police.

Bolingbrook, a suburb of 75,000 southwest of Chicago, sits in Will County, where Traynere has long held sway. Her board bio highlights affordable housing efforts, but this incident casts a shadow. Police have not said if an investigation continues, and no court filings appeared in public records by Tuesday, March 25. The child’s family has not spoken publicly, leaving the boy’s status a question mark.

Traynere’s brief stop—checking on the child before driving off—sits at the crux. The dented hood suggests contact, undercutting her uncertainty about striking him. Illinois statute 625 ILCS 5/11-401 mandates staying until police arrive if a crash involves a person, injured or not, unless reporting promptly elsewhere. Her delay to the station, length unknown, tests that line.

Local reaction is boiling. Online posts demand justice, with some calling it a double standard—drivers without clout might face cuffs. Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow’s office, responsible for charges, did not comment.

Originally posted on SlightlyOffensive.com