Chicago Ridge man faces aggravated DUI charge in Matteson fatal crash

By Casey Toner ctoner@southtownstar.com November 14, 2011 8:56PM

Heidegger

Updated: November 14, 2011 10:48PM

There’s been a hole in the lives of Park Forest residents Robert and Kathy Fisher since last week, when their daughter Stephanie was killed by an allegedly drunken driver in a car crash in Matteson.

The man against whom charges have been filed in the case had at least 12 drinks at a VFW, then went to a strip club and drank some more before getting behind the wheel, the Cook County state’s attorney’s office said Monday, and his blood-alcohol content was .256 â€" more than three times the legal limit.

Wayne G. Heidegger, 49, of 5825 W. 108th Place in Chicago Ridge, was charged Sunday with aggravated driving under the influence involving a death, speeding, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and being above a .08 blood-alcohol content, police said. Cook County Circuit Court Judge Darren Bowden on Monday set Heidegger’s bail at $500,000.

Knowing charges have been filed doesn’t begin to fill the void created by his daughter’s death, Robert Fisher said Monday.

“It’s something,” he said. “It certainly will not replace Stephanie.”

Police said Stephanie Fisher, 24, died Nov. 7 after her car caught fire when Heidegger’s vehicle rear-ended it at about 4 a.m. at the intersection of Vollmer Road and Cicero Avenue in Matteson. She was on her way to Old Navy in Orland Park when the accident occurred, Fisher said.

Cook County state’s attorney’s office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton said Heidegger had at least 12 alcoholic drinks, including beer and Bloody Marys, at a VFW the night before the crash. He then drove to a strip club, Club O in Harvey, where he drank more, she said.

After leaving the strip club, Heidegger was driving westbound on Vollmer Road toward the intersection at Cicero Avenue when he struck the tail end of Stephanie Fisher’s car, Simonton said. Upon impact, her car erupted into flames. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Heidegger then swerved into the opposite lane of traffic, almost hitting a different car, Simonton said. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Matteson Deputy Police Chief Ken Arvin said Heidegger suffered a broken neck in the crash. He was released to police Saturday. He is next due in court Nov. 30 at the Markham courthouse.

Stephanie Fisher graduated from Illinois State University in 2010 with a degree in English, her father said, and she “read every book she could get her hands on.”

He said she enjoyed camping, being outside and spending time with her boyfriend.

“I’m sure they would have wound up together because everyone could see they were completely in love with each other,” Robert Fisher said. He added that Stephanie “had her whole life ahead of her.”

Visitation for Fisher was Saturday in Park Forest. Her funeral later this week will be private. Stephanie is survived by her parents and a sister, Kelly.