The coroner has released the identity of a Round Lake Beach man who died after a dump truck turned in front of his motorcycle, causing a crash that left him ejected near Libertyville Friday.
An autopsy performed Monday showed that Dennis Lewis Jr., 35, of Round Lake Beach, died as a result of blunt force injuries to his head and neck as a result of a vehicle crash, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Libertyville Fire Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 2:35 p.m. Friday to Route 176 and Bradley Road in Green Oaks for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
Multiple 911 calls were received reporting a crash involving a semi-truck and a motorcycle, with one caller reporting there was a deceased victim at the scene, according to fire department radio traffic.
Firefighters, paramedics and sheriff’s deputies arrived and found the motorcycle down in the roadway with Lewis ejected, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
Lewis was lying in the intersection and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash happened in front of the Lake Shore Harley-Davidson dealership, east of Interstate 94.
The dump truck involved remained at the scene and pulled over on Bradley Road just north of Rockland Road.
A preliminary investigation shows the 2013 Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, driven by Lewis, was traveling westbound on Route 176.
Witnesses told investigators the motorcycle was approaching Bradley Road and in the westbound lanes, which had a green light, Covelli said.
A 2008 Peterbilt semi-truck, carrying a dump trailer and driven by a 50-year-old McHenry man, was traveling eastbound on Route 176.
Covelli said the driver of the Peterbilt began turning left to go northbound on Bradley Road and turned directly in front of the motorcycle, causing the collision.
The driver of the Peterbilt was uninjured and is cooperating with the investigation, Covelli said.
Sheriff’s deputies shut down all westbound lanes of Route 176 at Bradley Road as well as part of eastbound Route 176, resulting in heavy traffic delays, during the crash investigation.
One eastbound lane of traffic remained open. The scene was cleared before 5:30 p.m. and all lanes were reopened.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and took possession of Lewis.
The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Team.