A drunk and drugged driver was flown to the hospital after he crashed into two vehicles, one of them head-on, killing a 21-year-old man on Route 173 near Harvard Sunday morning.
The Harvard Fire Protection District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 1:52 a.m. Sunday to Route 173 west of Flat Iron Road in unincorporated Harvard for a three-vehicle crash with injuries.
A preliminary investigation shows a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Max P. McNamara, 31, of Lakemoor, was traveling eastbound on Route 173, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Chevrolet crossed into the westbound lane of travel and collided with the left front of a 2017 Lincoln MKX.
The Lincoln drove off of the roadway to the south following the impact.
The Chevrolet continued traveling eastbound and collided head-on with a 2015 Ford Taurus that was traveling westbound, the sheriff’s office said.
Two Mercyhealth REACT medical helicopters were called and landed at the scene.
McNamara was transported by helicopter to Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital – Riverside in Rockford in serious condition.
Sheriff’s officials said the driver of the Ford, a 21-year-old Rockford man, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
The driver of the Lincoln, a 28-year-old Rockford woman, along with the passenger, a 34-year-old Rockford woman, were treated at the scene and released.
The Harvard Police Department, Capron Rescue Squad, Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts and Mercyhealth MD-1 assisted at the scene.
McNamara was charged with driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs, a Class A misdemeanor. Additional charges are expected.
The McHenry County Coroner’s Office is withholding the name of the 21-year-old victim pending notification to next of kin.
The investigation remains ongoing and is being investigated by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office.