February 2, 2024

Sheriff’s Office Investigates Serious Injury Traffic Crash

A 39-year-old Jacksonville, Oregon man and a 53-year-old McHenry female were injured, following a two-vehicle crash in the 1500 block of River Road in unincorporated McHenry. 

On Thursday, February 1, at 7:19 a.m., members of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Island Lake Police Department and McHenry Fire Department responded to a crash involving two vehicles which resulted in injuries to both drivers. There were no passengers in either vehicle.   

Preliminary investigation indicates that the 1996 Ford Club Wagon van was traveling northbound on River Road and attempted to pass a vehicle in a marked no passing zone. The Ford lost control and collided with a southbound 2010 Honda Element in the southbound lane of River Road. The vehicles came to rest in front of the entrance for Moraine Hills State Park. The driver of the Ford was ejected from the vehicle and the driver of the Honda was extricated from the vehicle.  

Both drivers were transported to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry. The driver of the Ford was later flown to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with life-threatening injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and there was no airbag deployment. The driver of the Element is listed in serious but stable condition. She was wearing a seatbelt and airbags were deployed.

The investigation is ongoing and is being investigated by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit.