The sheriff says a 20-year-old was driving drunk with a suspended license and not wearing his seatbelt when he crashed into trees near Richmond, leaving him seriously injured and requiring him to be flown to the hospital.
The Richmond Township Fire Protection District, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Richmond Police Department responded around 9:56 a.m. on December 19 to the area of Tryon Grove Road and Keystone Road in unincorporated Richmond for a vehicle crash with injuries.
An initial report indicated the car struck a tree and drove off the roadway.
Fire officials said firefighters arrived in six minutes after receiving the call and found a single-vehicle crash a mile west of Keystone Road on the south side of Tryon Grove Road.
The vehicle was off the roadway approximately 20 yards down an embankment.
Paramedics found an adult male victim who was not trapped in the car.
A preliminary investigation shows a 2010 Hyundai Elantra was traveling eastbound on Tryon Grove Road when it left the roadway to the south, sideswiped two trees and struck a fence, the sheriff’s office said.
The Hyundai sustained significant damage, resulting in serious injuries to the driver, who was identified as Sergio Mendoza-Nova, 20, of Harvard.
A patient assessment and care were conducted and it was determined that a medical helicopter was needed to transport him to a Level 1 trauma center, fire officials said.
Mercyhealth MD-1, a mobile response physician, was also called to the scene to assist.
Fire officials said Mendoza-Nova was transported by ambulance to the Richmond Township Fire Protection District station where a landing zone was established.
A Mercyhealth REACT helicopter landed and the victim was transferred to the flight crew.
They flew Mendoza-Nova to Mercyhealth Javon Bea — Riverside in Rockford for treatment.
Sheriff’s officials said Mendoza-Nova, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was in serious condition in the hospital. The car’s airbags did deploy.
An investigation determined the driver was operating under the influence, crossed the lane boundary unsafely and was driving on a suspended license, according to McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Samantha Lacina.
Tryon Grove Road was shut down from Barnard Mill Road to Keystone Road for several hours during the crash investigation. It was reopened around 1:15 p.m.
Mendoza-Nova was charged with driving under the influence, illegal consumption of liquor by a person under 21 years of age, driving while license suspended, improper lane usage by crossing lane boundary unsafely, failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash and driving without a seatbelt.
Mendoza-Nova is scheduled to appear in court on January 7 for a plea hearing.