Investigators are still working to determine what led to a motorcycle crash that left a man dead in Woodstock and how long he had been fatally injured before he was discovered in a ditch.
The Woodstock Police Department and Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded around 6:19 a.m. Wednesday to the area of Route 14 and Washington Street in Woodstock for a motorcycle crash with injuries.
A passerby called 911 to report that a motorcyclist was down on the ground, according to fire department radio traffic.
The caller reported the victim was not conscious and not breathing.
Police officers arrived at the scene and reported the motorcyclist had been there for a while, radio traffic indicated.
Woodstock Fire/Rescue District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said paramedics arrived and found the rider in the ditch.
The male victim had suffered injuries “incompatible with life” and was pronounced dead at the scene, Vucha said, adding that it was unknown whether he was a juvenile or adult.
The McHenry County Regional Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was called to investigate the crash.
Woodstock Deputy Police Chief Ray Lanz said there was no indication that any other vehicles were involved in the cause of the crash.
Lanz said it is undetermined yet what factors played a role in the crash as MCAT is continuing to work the investigation. Toxicology test results are pending.
The McHenry County Coroner’s Office has not yet released the identity of the victim.
Lanz said that MCAT is also working to develop a timeline from prior to the crash to when the crash scene was discovered. It is unknown how long the motorcyclist had been there before he was found.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by MCAT and the Woodstock Police Department.