Suspect in 2 bike trail attacks hit by car, arrested

NEW LENOX, Ill. (WLS) -- A car accident led to a suspect's arrest after two women were allegedly attacked in separate incidents by a man on a bicycle along a popular Will County Forest Preserve trail.

Police say the attacks happened Monday about 15 minutes apart on the Old Plank Road Trail in suburban New Lenox.

Victor Hermida is being held on a $100,000 bond. Police say he admitted to committing the crimes. His arrest was a swift one, helped by the fact that he was hit by a car as he was trying to flee.

The trail that runs through New Lennox has always been considered safe by runners.

"I go on this trail because there are so many people," said runner Tracy Sendra.

But those who use the trail say their comfort zone is now in jeopardy after a man was charged for assaulting two female runners within in minutes Monday evening. Around 6:30, police say a 25-year-old New Lenox woman was running near the Bluestone Bay subdivision when a man pulled up to her on his bike.

"And on his bike, he kind of gave her a hug around the hips and asked her if she was interested in sex, to which she pushed him and knocked him off of his bike in grass and she took off running," said Chief Bob Murphy, Will County Forest Preserve Police.

The woman called police and 15 minutes later, on the same trail, the man approached a 19-year-old female runner.

"The second one, he tried to get her to give him a high five as they were going by and she just ignored him, so he got off the bike, ran, tackled her, rolled around the ground and just started beating her," Murphy said.

The attacker took off on his bike, only to be hit by a car a few minutes later as he crossed the trail and a road. Police say the motorist who hit him got out to make sure he was ok, but the suspect took off.

Police caught up with the suspect as he walked on the Old Plank Road Trail with his damaged bike. The first witness identified the 25-year-old Hermida as her attacker and he appeared in court Tuesday.

The way he was caught didn't get much sympathy from police or Old Plank Trail runners.

"Then he got himself hit by a car, which is poetic justice as far as I'm concerned," Murphy said.

"He deserved it, that's what I say," said Sendra.

Hermida was arrested exactly a half hour after the first attack. The second victim, who was beaten, was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet. She is recovering from several facial injuries, including having her teeth knocked out.