Police say a motorcyclist was hospitalized after he was recklessly passing cars when he collided with a vehicle, ejecting him over 30 feet on Route 176 in Island Lake Sunday afternoon.
The Wauconda Fire District and Island Lake Police Department responded around 12:40 p.m. Sunday to the area of Lomeli’s Fresh Market, 233 East State Road in Island Lake, for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
Fire crews arrived and reported a crash involving a car and a motorcycle, with the rider down on the ground.
Wauconda Fire District Battalion Chief Adam Schlick said it appeared the motorcycle was passing traffic on the right when it struck a vehicle that was turning into a parking lot.
The exact speed of the motorcycle was unknown but he was ejected over 30 feet from the motorcycle, Schlick said.
The operator was wearing a helmet and was conscious and breathing when responders arrived.
Schlick said the victim was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, a Level 1 trauma center, due to the mechanism of injury.
The motorcyclist was stable upon being transferred to the hospital. The driver of the vehicle was uninjured and did not require any attention.
Island Lake Police Chief Jennifer Paulus said the crash involved a Kawasaki motorcycle and a Dodge sedan.
Both were traveling eastbound on Route 176 when the motorcycle was driving recklessly by passing cars on the right, Paulus said.
The driver of the Dodge began turning into the Lomeli’s parking lot when the motorcycle hit the passenger side of the Dodge, ejecting the rider.
Paulus said the motorcyclist, a 23-year-old Island Lake man, was found to be at fault after two witnesses provided a statement to police.
There was also a video obtained that showed the motorcyclist passing vehicles at a high rate of speed.
The 45-year-old Lakemoor man in the Dodge was uninjured and both drivers were sole occupants of their vehicles, Paulus said.
The driver of the motorcycle will be issued citations for reckless driving, not having a valid motorcycle license and driving without insurance.
Paulus said eastbound Route 176 was shut down for approximately 30 minutes while tow trucks responded and towed both vehicles from the scene.