A celebration of life will be held Wednesday for a 24-year-old man, who was a Richmond-Burton High School graduate, after he was ejected and killed in a rollover crash in Spring Grove.
A Spring Grove Police Department officer was on patrol around 11:13 p.m. on August 24 when they came upon a crash in the 9000 block of Winn Road.
The Spring Grove Fire Protection District was called to the scene of the single-vehicle crash.
Paramedics found the driver was unresponsive and pronounced him dead at the scene, according to Spring Grove Police Chief Michael Niedzwiecki.
McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein identified him as Blake Persons, 24, of Spring Grove.
An initial investigation showed that a black Chevrolet pickup truck, driven by Persons, was traveling southbound on Winn Road.
The Chevrolet crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic and left the roadway, Niedzwiecki said.
The Chevrolet continued southbound along the ditch and struck two telephone poles, requiring ComEd to respond to the scene.
At least one of the poles was snapped in half and the truck rolled over onto its side.
Persons was ejected from the pickup truck and died from his injuries.
Niedzwiecki said preliminary findings suggest that speed appeared to be a contributing factor in the crash.
The Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) — which is made up of members from the Cary, Harvard, Johnsburg, McHenry, Spring Grove, Richmond and Woodstock police departments — was activated to conduct an investigation.
Winn Road between Martin Road and Monterra Drive was shut down for hours throughout Monday morning into the afternoon due to power lines down from the crash. The roadway was reopened around 2:30 p.m. the following day.
Niedzwiecki said additional information will be released after the MCAT investigation has been completed.
Persons was a 2019 graduate of Richmond-Burton Community High School and pursued a career as a crane operator with Skyline Crane in Hebron, according to his obituary.
“Blake enjoyed simple pleasures-the company of good friends, time with his family, and operating his crane,” his obituary said.
“Outside of his career, Blake loved snowmobiling in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, along with boating and fishing. Winter was his favorite season, and he embraced every opportunity to enjoy it, whether it was snowmobiling to school or saving up every vacation day waiting for it to snow and head up north,” the obituary said.
Persons was close with his mother and father and was the ideal “big brother” to his sister.
“Blake was known as a kindhearted young man, always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need,” the obituary said.
“His greatest joy was the time he shared with his best friend-his dad. Their bond was undeniably special and rare to anyone who knew them,” the obituary added.
No formal funeral services will be held. A celebration of life is set for 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Rusty Nail Saloon, 4520 Ringwood Road in Ringwood.
Attendees are asked to dress casually. “Blake will be remembered for his caring heart, his beaming smile, and the joy he brought to everyone who knew him. His memory will live on forever in the hearts of his family and friends.”