The coroner has identified a 73-year-old grandfather who died after another driver, who was possibly impaired, crashed head-on into his car on Route 59 near Lake Villa.
An autopsy performed Monday showed George Giannakakis, 73, of Ingleside, died as a result of blunt force injuries, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Lake Villa Fire Protection District responded around 9:50 p.m. Friday to Route 59 south of Route 132 in unincorporated Lake Villa for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and located a GMC Acadia and Kia Sorento with major damage, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
A preliminary investigation shows the GMC, driven by a 74-year-old Lake Villa man, was traveling northbound on Route 59.
The driver of the GMC veered into the southbound lanes of traffic for unknown reasons, Covelli said.
The GMC struck the southbound Kia, driven by Giannakakis, head-on.
Both drivers were transported by ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with critical injuries.
Giannakakis was pronounced deceased shortly after arriving at the hospital, Covelli said.
The driver of the GMC remains in the hospital in critical condition.
Covelli said that witnesses reported the GMC was swerving prior to the crash.
Impairment appears to be a factor in the crash but the investigation remains ongoing, Covelli added.
Giannakakis’ obituary said he leaves behind a wife of 52 years along with three children and multiple grandchildren.
A visitation is being held Wednesday followed by a funeral service Thursday morning.
The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Team.