
The coroner has released the identity of a 30-year-old man and father who died following a head-on crash on Route 83 in Grayslake Monday as his family says they are “beyond heartbroken.”
An autopsy performed on Tuesday showed Joseph Roon, 30, of Lake Villa, died as a result of blunt force injuries from a vehicle crash, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Grayslake Police Department and Grayslake Fire Protection District responded around 8:33 a.m. Monday to the area of Taco Bell, 115 South Route 83 in Grayslake, for a report of a three-vehicle crash with injuries.
Grayslake Police Chief Jeff Myhra said officers arrived to find two of the three vehicles with heavy damage following an apparent head-on crash.
An investigation showed a white 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Roon, was traveling southbound on Route 83 south of Center Street.
The Chevrolet appeared to have rear-ended a blue 2020 Toyota Corolla, driven by a 37-year-old man, Myhra said.
After rear-ending the Toyota, the Chevrolet traveled east and struck a black 2019 Lexus UX head-on as the Lexus, driven by a 60-year-old man, traveled northbound on Route 83.
Myhra said Roon suffered significant injuries. He was unconscious and not breathing at the scene.
Paramedics transported Roon to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he was later pronounced dead in the emergency room.
The driver of the Lexus was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center with a lower-body injury, Myhra said.
The driver of the Toyota was evaluated at the scene and released. He has been cooperating with the investigation.
Myhra said the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) is assisting the Grayslake Police Department with conducting the crash investigation.
Route 83 between Center Street and Route 120 was shut down for approximately four hours and reopened around 12:30 p.m. Monday.
“… to say we are beyond heartbroken is an understatement,” Roon’s mother-in-law, Cassandra Lizotte-vanEmpel, said, adding “The coming weeks and months will be difficult.”
Roon was described as a “great husband, father, son and friend.”
A GoFundMe created to help raise money for unexpected expenses for the family has collected over $3,000.