Man charged after Granite City Police say he intentionally hit pedestrian with his vehicle

By Randy Pierce • Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine has filed a petition with the Illinois Third Judicial Court calling for the denial of a pre-trial release of a man charged in connection with an incident that occurred in Granite City on Monday, July 13.

About 8:45 that evening, Madison County Sheriff’s Department deputies answered a call about a pedestrian being stuck by a vehicle in the 1500 block of Chateau Place Road in an unincorporated area to the northwest of Granite City.

After arriving at the scene, meeting with witnesses and reviewing available surveillance video, deputies determined that it was apparent the driver of the vehicle intentionally drove it at a pedestrian with the intent to do harm then left the scene while the victim had sustained serious injuries to his lower extremities, taken to a local hospital where it was determined he had a broken leg.

While this investigation at the scene was ongoing, the suspect, later identified as Tony S. Accardi, 65, originally from St. Louis, returned in a different vehicle and the deputies attempted to get him to stop which he did not so a pursuit followed, ending when Accardi lost control and came to a stop in a gravel roadway.

  After investigators gathered more evidence in the form of surveillance video and statements from additional witnesses, a warrant for Accardi’s arrest was obtained and his first vehicle was processed by an Illinois State Police crime scene unit.

Felony charges by Haine’s office against Accardi include attempted first-degree murder (Class X) and two counts of aggravated battery (Class 2 and 3) along with a Class A misdemeanor of fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer.

In the documents submitted by Haine to prevent Accardi’s pre-trial release under the provisions of the Illinois “Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity – Today” Act, it is noted that attempted murder is a non-probationable felony which, if the defendant were to be set free temporarily, renders that individual a “specific, real and present threat” to the community.

Also explained in that petition from Haine’s office is that surveillance video showed how the vehicle driven by Accardi “swerved well off the roadway” to strike the victim and was found at the defendant’s residence with significant front-end damage.

When arrested, Accardi is said to have admitted to deputies he deliberately struck the victim with the vehicle and mentioned there had been a long-running feud between neighbors while also repeating he should have “finished him.” 

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.