A family is remembering a 17-year-old Barrington boy, who was a soccer player and college prep student, after he died in a high-speed crash in Deer Park, saying he was “irreplaceable” and “life will never be the same.”
An autopsy performed Tuesday showed that Maximilian “Max” Sahinoglu, 17, of Barrington, died as a result of blunt force injuries from a vehicle crash, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department responded around 9:45 a.m. Monday to the area of Ela Road and Long Grove Road in Deer Park for a vehicle crash with injuries.
Multiple 911 callers reported the crash and said one person, later identified as Sahinoglu, was unresponsive and not breathing at the scene.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said sheriff’s deputies arrived and located a BMW sedan with catastrophic damage.
A preliminary investigation shows the BMW, driven by Sahinoglu, was traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on Ela Road.
It appeared Sahinoglu lost control while traveling at high speed and drove off the roadway where the BMW struck a tree, Covelli said.
The 17-year-old boy was pronounced deceased at the scene.
No other vehicles were involved in the crash and Sahinoglu was the sole occupant of his car, Covelli said.
Ela Road was completely shut down from Long Grove Road to Cuba Road during the investigation.
Sahinoglu was on the boys’ varsity soccer team at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire where he attended the college-preparatory school, which is America’s sixth-oldest boarding school and educates students in grades 9-12. He was set to graduate in 2027.
An obituary for Sahinoglu said he leaves behind his parents and older brother, as well as numerous other family members.
Sahinoglu grew up in Barrington where life was “all about sports, friends, and finding a way to make every day more fun,” his obituary said.
He attended Grove Avenue Elementary and Prairie Middle School before attending Phillips Exeter Academy, following his older brother.
“Wherever Max went, he made an entrance. When he walked into a room, it got louder, funnier, and happier almost instantly,” his family said in his obituary.
“What people will remember most, though, is his heart. Max was loving, understanding, and fiercely loyal. He was a true rock for his friends. He showed up for people. He listened when it mattered, lifted people up when they needed it, and had a way of making everyone feel included. He could brighten a day just by being himself,” his obituary said.
A visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Friday and a funeral service will begin at 12 p.m. at Davenport Family Funeral Home in Barrington. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.
“The space Max leaves behind can never be filled, but neither can the joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories he gave to the people who loved him,” his family said.
The boy’s older brother, Alex Sahinoglu, said he still cannot fully process the loss yet and part of him feels like his brother will come banging on the door so they can hang out.
“You are my best friend and I don’t know how I’m going to get through the rest of my life without you. You are the funniest kid I’ve ever met and never failed to brighten up my day,” Alex Sahinoglu said.
“You are truly irreplaceable and life will never be the same. Thank you for being in my life and I will never take our talks, playing video games, playing footy together, and just spending time together for granted,” he added.
The sheriff’s office has not said whether any other factors besides speed may have contributed to the collision.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigation Team.