A 25-year-old Round Lake Beach native and graduate of Grayslake North High School died after he pulled out at an intersection and his vehicle was T-boned, authorities said.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Kane County Sheriff’s Office and Maple Park and Countryside Fire Protection District responded around 9:08 a.m. Monday to the intersection of Route 64 and East County Line Road, in an unincorporated area north of Maple Park and east of Sycamore.
Deputies arrived and found a two-vehicle crash involving a 2019 Mazda 6 and a 2013 Chevrolet Traverse.
Sheriff’s officials said an investigation showed the Mazda was stopped facing southbound on County Line Road at the stop sign at Route 64.
The Chevrolet was traveling westbound on Route 64 approaching the intersection.
Traffic on Route 64 in both directions does not have a traffic control device.
The Mazda, driven by Ethan Waratuke, 25, of Mount Prospect, entered the intersection and failed to yield to the Chevrolet for unknown reasons, sheriff’s officials said.
The two vehicles collided in the intersection where the Chevrolet struck the driver’s side of the Mazda.
Sheriff’s officials said the Mazda spun and went into the southwest ditch. The Chevrolet spun and stopped in the middle of the intersection.
Waratuke was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb where he was pronounced dead.
The driver of the Chevrolet, a 62-year-old Maple Park woman, was also transported to Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts and the intersection was shut down for hours for the crash investigation.
The incident remains under active investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and DeKalb County Coroner’s Office.
Waratuke leaves behind his wife, parents, four siblings and numerous other family members.
“He is a dear husband, son, brother, cousin, nephew and friend to many who will miss him dearly,” his obituary said.
Waratuke is originally from Round Lake Beach and graduated from Grayslake North High School.
He obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and then obtained a master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“He had a passion for gardening, cooking, baking, video games, HEMA, and fencing. He had a great love for animals, especially his family pets and his own dog, Honey,” his obituary said.
“Ethan will be remembered as a man of deep intelligence, loyalty, humor, and love of his family and friends,” the obituary added.
A visitation for friends and family is scheduled for Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. at Warren Funeral Home in Gurnee.
A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home followed by interment at Warren Cemetery.