The coroner’s office has identified a 57-year-old man who died after a motorized bicycle hit his bicycle while he was traveling home from work on Route 31 in McHenry.
An autopsy showed that Daren J. Konecny Sr., 57, of McHenry, died as a result of blunt force injuries from a crash, according to Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton.
The McHenry Township Fire Protection District and McHenry Police Department responded around 11:45 p.m. Thursday to the area of Route 31 and Medical Center Drive in McHenry.
McHenry Police Department Public Affairs Officer Michael Spohn told Lake and McHenry County Scanner the crash involved two bicycles in the northbound lanes.
One bicycle was traveling northbound in the northbound lanes and the second bicycle was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes. The two bicycles collided with each other.
The rider on the non-electric bicycle, identified as Konecny, suffered very critical injuries, Spohn said.
The rider on the motorized bicycle, a 21-year-old man, was not seriously injured and refused transport to the hospital.
Paramedics transported Konecny to a helipad at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, which is across the street from where the crash occurred.
A LifeNet medical helicopter transported Konecny to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, which is a level one trauma center.
Konecny was initially listed in critical condition, Spohn said.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office confirmed that the man was pronounced dead Saturday evening at the hospital.
The roadway was closed while the Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) responded to the scene to conduct a crash investigation.
Spohn said the 21-year-old man operating the motorized bike was cited for failure to ride a bicycle on the right edge of the roadway.
Konecny’s obituary said he was a “jack of all trades” and was employed at Chroma Color Corporation in McHenry, which is south of where the crash occurred.
“Daren enjoyed spending his free time doing just about anything so long as it was held outdoors. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed hunting as well. He never missed an opportunity to ride his bike and shared many happy memories bike riding with his granddaughter, Sophia,” the obituary said.
“Daren was a loving dad, grandpa and friend who was loved by many and will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know him.”
A funeral is scheduled for November 11.
The incident remains under investigation by the McHenry Police Department and MCAT.