The sheriff says a man reported he fell asleep before crashing his minivan into a utility pole near Harvard, leaving him in critical condition and being airlifted to the hospital.
The Harvard Fire Protection District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 10:55 a.m. Saturday to Route 23 and Streit Road in unincorporated Harvard for a report of a vehicle crash involving a utility pole.
Rescue crews arrived and found a heavily damaged minivan that crashed with a utility pole, Harvard Fire Protection District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said.
“The male driver had been removed from the vehicle before their arrival and was lying on the ground nearby,” Vucha said.
The collision also caused significant damage to the pole.
Rescue crews quickly assessed the situation and requested a Mercyhealth REACT medical helicopter and Mercyhealth MD-1, which is an emergency response physician, to assist, Vucha said.
The helicopter landed at the scene and airlifted the man to Javon Bea Hospital – Riverside in Rockford in critical condition.
McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Porfirio Campos-Cruz said the blue 2012 Nissan Quest had been traveling northbound on Route 23 south of Streit Road.
The male driver of the Nissan told deputies he may have fallen asleep, resulting in him driving off the roadway and striking the utility pole, Campos-Cruz said.
Campos-Cruz said the victim suffered trauma to his chest and as of Monday afternoon there was no update on his condition.
The Nissan was towed from the scene and no citations were issued.