The coroner has identified one of two men who were killed after a high-speed UTV crash resulted in power lines coming down and a fire near Hebron Saturday evening.
An autopsy performed Monday showed that Bryan Dahm, 36, of Woodstock, preliminarily died as a result of thermal injuries, according to McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein.
The Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 10:50 p.m. Saturday to the 13300 block of Thayer Road in unincorporated Hebron for a vehicle crash with injuries.
A 911 caller reported the incident involved a UTV. The Harvard Fire Protection District, Mercyhealth MD-1, Woodstock Fire/Rescue District and Wonder Lake Fire Protection District were called to assist.
A preliminary investigation showed a UTV, driven by a 40-year-old Harvard man, was traveling eastbound on Thayer Road.
The UTV, which was traveling at a high rate of speed, exited the roadway and severed a utility pole, knocking down power lines, the sheriff’s office said.
The UTV had two passengers, which included Dahm and a 35-year-old San Carlos, California man.
Sheriff’s officials said the UTV rolled over several times, resulting in the driver being ejected.
The UTV came to rest upright in a ditch and caught on fire.
The 40-year-old driver and Dahm were both pronounced dead at the scene, sheriff’s officials said.
The 35-year-old passenger suffered minor injuries and declined medical attention.
Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash, the sheriff’s office said.
Rein publicly identified Dahm on Tuesday and said that the positive identification of the 40-year-old driver is still pending further testing.
The crash remains under investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Crash Investigation Unit and McHenry County Coroner’s Office.