An 18-year-old man, who was described as the “most thoughtful and outgoing guy,” has been identified after he died in a crash involving a motorcycle and van in Fox Lake Sunday evening.
An autopsy performed on Tuesday showed Alexander Russell, 18, of Indian Creek, died as a result of blunt force injuries to the head and chest, according to McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein.
The Fox Lake Fire Protection District, Spring Grove Fire Protection District and Fox Lake Police Department responded around 6:15 p.m. Sunday to the 11100 block of Wilmot Road in Fox Lake for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
Fox Lake Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Ted Damos said the incident involved two vehicles.
A Dodge Grand Caravan and a Suzuki motorcycle collided on Wilmot Road approximately a mile north of Route 173.
Fox Lake Police Department Sgt. Rick Howell said the Dodge was traveling northbound on Wilmot Road attempting to turn left into the driveway of a home.
The motorcycle, driven by Russell, was traveling southbound at a high rate of speed, according to witnesses, while cresting a hill, Howell said.
Damos said it appeared the motorcycle clipped the front right of the Dodge and Russell was ejected over it.
Emergency crews arrived to find Russell unconscious and not breathing.
Bystanders were performing CPR on the man when first responders arrived, Damos said.
Russell ended up in the ditch line on the west side of the road after being ejected.
Paramedics took over lifesaving measures and transported him to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry, Damos said.
Russell suffered critical, life-threatening injuries. Howell said the 18-year-old died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The 41-year-old Lake Villa woman driving the Dodge was transported to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry for an evaluation of minor injuries.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was called to assist the Fox Lake Police Department with the investigation.
Wilmot Road was shut down at Route 173 for four and a half hours. It was reopened just before 11 p.m.
No citations or charges have been filed against the driver of the Dodge.
Both drivers, who were not suspected of being impaired at the scene, were the sole occupants of their vehicles.
A friend of Russell told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that Russell was the “most thoughtful and outgoing guy you’ve ever met.”
“He was so ready for an adventure at any time and he cared about everyone and would drop anything to be there for the people he loved,” the woman said.
The crash remains under investigation by the Fox Lake Police Department and MCAT.