Sheriff’s officials say a 28-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries after he crashed his pickup truck into a tree, leaving him heavily entrapped in the vehicle near Wauconda.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Wauconda Fire District and Grayslake Fire Department responded around 4:40 a.m. Saturday to the area of Fairfield Road and Chardon Road in unincorporated Wauconda.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said deputies were dispatched for a car into a tree crash with injuries.
The vehicle, a 2016 GMC Sierra, was occupied by only the driver, a 28-year-old Palatine man.
Wauconda Fire District Lt. Michael Young said the GMC sustained heavy damage after striking a group of trees.
The driver was heavily entrapped in the vehicle and required prolonged extrication by firefighters to free him, Young said.
Covelli said the driver suffered critical injuries in the crash.
A preliminary investigation shows the GMC was traveling southbound on Fairfield Road when it crossed the center line.
Covelli said the GMC left the pavement on the east side of the roadway, crossed a driveway and struck a large tree head-on.
The vehicle then crossed a driveway and struck a large tree head-on. Covelli said it is unknown what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
The driver was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with critical, life-threatening injuries.
Fairfield Road was shut down in both directions during the crash investigation Saturday morning.
The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Unit.