Investigators say a 50-year-old driver found dead after his car drove off the roadway and crashed into a tree in Wonder Lake Monday morning was not wearing a seatbelt and was possibly intoxicated.
The Wonder Lake Fire Protection District, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Wonder Lake Police Department responded around 8:29 a.m. Monday to the area of Howe Road and Wonder Woods Drive in Wonder Lake for a vehicle crash with injuries.
Wonder Lake Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Jeff Tress said fire crews arrived and found a single-vehicle crash.
The car, a gray 2011 Hyundai Sonata, was off the roadway in the 7700 block of Howe Road, west of Wonder Woods Drive.
The car had struck a tree after it drove approximately 10-15 yards off the roadway, Tress said.
A passerby noticed the Hyundai and called 911. It is unclear how long the car had been there before it was discovered.
Tress said fire crews found a single victim in the vehicle, an adult male driver, who was unresponsive.
Sheriff’s officials said the man was 50 years old and a Wonder Lake resident.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene. No other victims or vehicles were located.
A preliminary investigation showed the Hyundai was traveling eastbound on Howe Road when it left the roadway to the south, through a field, and struck the tree, according to the sheriff’s office.
Tress said it is unknown if the snowy road conditions played a role in the crash, which resulted in significant front-end damage to the sedan.
Sheriff’s officials said the man was not wearing a seatbelt and alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Wonder Lake Police Department shut down Howe Road between Jonquil Drive and West Wonder Lake Road for several hours.
The sheriff’s office’s Major Crash Investigation Unit responded to the scene to conduct an investigation.
The McHenry County Coroner’s Office also responded to the scene and is in the process of scheduling an autopsy on the victim, whose identity has not been released.