A trapped driver was killed when an SUV crashed into a pole and caught on fire, quickly engulfing the vehicle, in Waukegan early Sunday morning.
The Waukegan Police Department and Waukegan Fire Department responded around 2:30 a.m. Sunday to Sheridan Road and Glen Flora Avenue for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
A white SUV had struck a pole and burst into flames, trapping the driver inside the car.
A neighbor told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that bystanders were using sticks to try and break the windows to rescue the driver.
The neighbor, who wished to not be named, said the fire initially started small but quickly got bigger.
Officers arrived and found the single-vehicle crash with the vehicle well-engulfed in flames.
Officers were also unable to get the male driver out of the car due to the fire.
Firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire. They located the male driver deceased in the car.
The Waukegan Police Department Major Crash Unit is investigating the cause of the crash.
Officers were on the scene investigating until around 9 a.m. Sunday.
The neighbor, who lives near the intersection, said he sees lots of vehicles speeding in the area and crashes are common. “Nothing this bad, this is the worst I’ve seen,” he said.
The first responders did a “very good job” but there was nothing that could be done for the victim, the neighbor said.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office has not released the identity of the male yet pending notification to family.