The family of a 61-year-old father says he was running errands for his family when a car rear-ended his vehicle, leaving him dead Sunday in Libertyville.
An autopsy performed on Ezequiel Martinez, 61, of Mundelein, showed he died as a result of blunt force injuries, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Libertyville Police Department and Libertyville Fire Department responded around 11:35 p.m. Sunday to Route 45 and Peterson Road in Libertyville for a vehicle crash with injuries.
Officers arrived on the scene and reported one of the victims, later identified as Martinez, was trapped in one of the cars and not breathing.
Libertyville Deputy Police Chief Chad Roszkowiak said Martinez’s vehicle sustained extensive damage in the crash.
The Mundelein Fire Department and Grayslake Fire Department were called to the scene to assist.
Martinez was extricated by the Libertyville Fire Department and transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center.
Martinez was pronounced dead in the emergency room after arriving at the hospital, Roszkowiak said.
The other vehicle’s driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center by the Mundelein Fire Department.
Police did not say which way the vehicles were traveling at the time of the crash or what may have caused the crash.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was called to the scene to investigate, Roszkowiak said.
A fundraiser started to assist Martinez’s family with funeral expenses has raised almost $1,000.
Family says that Martinez was in a “tragic fatal accident” when his vehicle was rear-ended while he was running errands for his family.
Martinez leaves behind a wife and two daughters.
“His family has to carry the burden of this life changing tradegy. We are seeking financial resources to help the family though this life altering moment of losing their head of household, father and husband,” Mundelein resident Glenda Juarez said in the fundraiser.
The crash remains under investigation by the Libertyville Police Department, MCAT and the Lake County Coroner’s Office.