A Beach Park man, who was a father of two, has been identified after he crashed his motorcycle into a semi-truck and died in Lake Forest while on the way home from the Chicago Bears game.
An autopsy performed Monday showed Hector Gomez, 46, of Beach Park, died as a result of blunt force injuries as a result of a vehicle crash, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Lake Forest Police Department and Lake Forest Fire Department responded around 4:10 p.m. Sunday to Route 41 and Westleigh Road in Lake Forest.
Lake Forest Deputy Police Chief Kevin Zelk said it was reported that a vehicle crash involving a semi-truck tractor-trailer and a motorcycle occurred on northbound Route 41 at the intersection.
First responders arrived and determined Gomez, who was the motorcycle operator, was deceased, Zelk said.
A preliminary investigation showed a 2017 Suzuki motorcycle was traveling northbound on Route 41 at a high rate of speed.
Gomez was “lane-splitting” and attempting to pass between two vehicles, Zelk said.
A 2019 Kenworth semi-truck with a loaded trailer was in the curbside lane and another vehicle was in the inside lane.
The motorcycle struck the rear driver’s side of the trailer while attempting to pass between both vehicles.
Zelk said the motorcyclist was ejected and killed immediately. The driver of the semi-truck did not suffer any injuries.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was requested to the scene to assist with the investigation.
The intersection of Route 41 and Westleigh Road was shut down for several hours while the scene was processed and cleared.
Gomez’s sister-in-law told Lake and McHenry County Scanner the man was on his way home from the Chicago Bears game at the time of the crash.
His wife, Alicia Gomez, said her husband leaves behind two children, ages 5 and 15.
“I have no words to express how I feel, but it comforts me knowing that he was loved by all who had a chance to know him. He would always look out for others and was very compassive, loved his kids, our families, friends and his 2 dogs,” Alicia Gomez said.
“He had a passion for motorcycles and football, he was my angel, my strength and the one who brought peace in my life,” she added.
A GoFundMe account was created to help pay for Gomez’s funeral expenses.
The crash remains under investigation by the Lake Forest Police Department and MCAT.