A student was flown to the hospital with apparent serious injuries after being struck in the head during a machining class at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake.
The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department and McHenry County College Police responded around 11:41 a.m. Monday to McHenry County College, 8900 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, for a report of a traumatic injury call.
Paramedics arrived and requested a LifeNet medical helicopter to respond to the incident.
An ambulance transported the victim from the school campus to the helipad at Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Woodstock.
A Mercyhealth REACT helicopter responded and the victim was transferred to the flight crew.
The victim was airlifted to Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital — Riverside in Rockford, which is a Level 1 trauma center.
McHenry County College Public Information Officer Christina Haggerty confirmed the victim injured was a current student who is receiving treatment and was in class when it occurred.
“As the health, safety, and well-being of our students are our top priority, it is important to protect this student’s privacy at this time,” Haggerty said.
A parent of a McHenry County College student told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the incident happened in a shop classroom during a machining class.
The man, who has children and is a former Marine, was struck in the head by a part and immediately collapsed to the ground.
The woman said her son ran to get an emergency kit and another student called 911.
“The teachers were attending to him the best they could. My son went outside to wait for the ambulance so he could direct them to the room. He said it was definitely a head/brain injury,” she said.
The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department did not provide further details on the incident or an update on the victim’s condition.