1 dead in Lakemoor crash

Comments (...)

(Photo courtesy of the McHenry Township Fire Protection District)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Comments

Share

LAKEMOOR – One man was left dead after the minivan in which he was riding crashed into a tree early Sunday morning.

About 3 a.m., police and fire officials responded to a one-vehicle crash in the 500 block of West Rand Road between Tia Juana and Lakeview drives. A minivan was heading west on Rand Road when it failed to make a turn and struck a tree.

Seven people – all males in their mid-20s whose names were not immediately available – were involved in the accident, but only two were found in the car upon emergency crews' arrival. The five others had all apparently walked away from the accident, McHenry Township Fire Protection District Lt. Bob Fritch said.

One man was pronounced dead at the scene. He was sitting nearest the passenger side in the center of the minivan.

"That's the side that took all the impact," Fritch said.

Another passenger was pinned to the vehicle in critical condition. He was flown via a Flight for Life helicopter in the first of what would later be three total calls.

About 10 minutes into the investigation, Fritch said, another male with injuries walked up to the scene and told officials that he was in the crash. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later flown by helicopter to be treated elsewhere.

Twenty-five minutes after the third minivan occupant was found, Lakemoor police discovered three other passengers about four blocks away in a park. One had suffered from injuries that warranted an additional helicopter ride, Fritch said.

The seventh and last accident victim was found an hour to 1 1/2 hours later near Chapel Hill and Route 120 in McHenry, nearly two miles from the scene.

"It was definitely a difficult incident to manage," Fritch said, adding that McHenry firefighters left the scene at 7 a.m.

Also responding were Lakemoor police, an accident investigation team from Lake County, and Wauconda and Wonder Lake fire officials.

Comments