The coroner has identified a 67-year-old man who died of a medical emergency after police say his vehicle drove into oncoming traffic before traveling off Route 45 in Lindenhurst.
The Lake Villa Fire Protection District and Lindenhurst Police Department responded around 2:15 p.m. Saturday to Route 45 near Briargate Boulevard for a vehicle crash with injuries.
Officers arrived and found a single-vehicle crash off the roadway on the west side of Route 45, according to Lindenhurst Chief of Police Thomas Jones.
Passing motorists stopped and were performing CPR on the driver before first responders arrived.
Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton said the driver was identified as Carl Carlson, 67, of Ingleside.
Jones told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that witnesses reported the red Kia Forte was traveling southbound on Route 45.
The Kia entered the northbound lanes of traffic south of Sand Lake Road at one point.
The vehicle drove into the ditch on the east side of Route 45 at Deerpath Drive and then crossed over both lanes of traffic, Jones said.
The Kia entered the ditch on the west side of Route 45 south of Falling Waters Boulevard.
Jones said the Kia began swerving into oncoming traffic as other motorists were “dodging” the erratic driving to avoid being struck.
The vehicle then left the roadway again near Briargate Boulevard, traveling more than 300 feet off the roadway where it came to a rest in the ditch.
Carlson was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Jones said.
The man was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital despite lifesaving measures being performed.
“While we are saddened by a loss of life, this situation could have been much more tragic,” Jones said.
Newton said Carlson suffered a medical emergency related to his heart, which led to the incident.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was notified and responded to assist with the investigation.
Route 45 was closed from Grand Avenue to Sand Lake Road for approximately two hours. The roadway was re-opened around 5:10 p.m.
Multiple police departments also responded to assist with traffic control.
The incident remains under investigation by the Lindenhurst Police Department and MCAT.