McHenry County Sheriff officials said Sunday that no one is in custody for a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a 15-year-old teen near Crystal Lake, despite some media reports to the contrary.
McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Eric Ellis said at 11 a.m. Sunday morning that “No arrests have been made and the investigation is still ongoing” into the death of Nicholas Laureys, 15.
“Nick” Laureys was run down from behind while riding his bike with a friend on Terra Cotta Road near Deering Oaks Road at about 9:34 p.m. Wednesday.
A GoFundMe account has been established by the family of the victim to assist with funeral expenses.
“Nick was always surrounded by friends, whether he was shooting hoops with the neighbor’s donated basketball hoop, gaming with his uncle, or golfing with his friend Jacob,” the GoFundMe account reads. “Nick’s loss has left a hole in our family and our community.”
The account says Nick was coming home from fishing with his friend when an unknown driver struck the boy and left the scene.
The GoFundMe added he loved his brothers, his cat Oreo, being outdoors, working on his ATV, helping with chores, and caring for his pets.
The funds will be used to help cover funeral and memorial expenses. Any extra will go into a trust in Nick’s name, the account reads.
“Nick was a caring, spirited teenager who pushed boundaries but always knew how much he was loved,” the account reads. “Our best memories are simple moments together, like playing hide and seek with our ATVs at the farm or talking through tough times.”
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office has located a vehicle believed to be involved in the fatal hit-and-run crash in unincorporated Crystal Lake.
The vehicle is believed to be a dark-colored (red) 2017-2018 Jeep Cherokee.
The release issued Saturday said no one was in custody despite locating the vehicle.
Sheriff officials also thanked the community for their assistance and cooperation in the investigation.
Laureys was reported to be unresponsive immediately after the crash, and deputies reported they were performing lifesaving measures after arriving on the scene.
A LifeNet medical helicopter was placed on standby but later canceled.
The teen was transported to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry, where he was pronounced dead, officials said.
The child’s bicycle, along with the second bicycle, was seen lying in the ditch along Terra Cotta Road after the crash.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Crash Investigation Unit said they have been working closely with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office and McHenry County Coroner’s Office to identify the driver of the vehicle.
Family members of the teen released the identity of the victim to the Lake & McHenry County Scanner.
Mother Jill Laureys said her son, Nicholas, was coming home on his bike from fishing with friends when a vehicle “hit him and took off from the scene.”
“He was only a block away from his Uncle’s house, where he currently lives,” the mother previously said in a message to the Lake & McHenry County Scanner. “I miss him so freaking much.”
Uncle Lance Laureys told the Lake & McHenry County Scanner early Saturday morning that “It’s killing me inside that someone did this.”
Jill Laureys said Nick is the oldest of her three children.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Traffic Crash Unit responded to the scene Wednesday night to conduct a crash reconstruction.
Officials said the bicycle had an activated red taillight at the time it was struck.
McHenry County Coroner officials said toxicology is currently pending, but initial autopsy results show the teen was killed due to blunt force trauma experienced in the hit-and-run.
Terra Cotta Road was shut down following the crash between East Hillside Road and Old Westbury Road for several hours. The roadway was reopened around 2:20 a.m. Thursday.