The coroner has released the identity of a 31-year-old man who was found trapped and dead in his SUV after crashing into a brick sign, causing significant damage, in Mundelein Sunday.
An autopsy performed Monday showed that Lukas Beelow, 31, of Mundelein, died as a result of blunt force injuries as a result of a vehicle crash, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Mundelein Police Department and Mundelein Fire Department responded around 1:50 a.m. Sunday to the area of Chevy Chase Road and Hawley Street in Mundelein for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries and entrapment.
Fire crews arrived and found a car off the roadway with heavy damage.
Mundelein Chief of Police Jason Seeley said officers confirmed the crash involved a single-vehicle, a black Chevrolet SUV.
The Chevrolet had struck the brick sign at the entrance to Grand Dominion by Del Webb.
The car went off the roadway just north of Hawley Street, Seeley said.
The driver, later identified as Beelow, was found trapped inside the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene to take possession of Beelow for an autopsy.
Seeley said no other occupants were believed to have been in the car when the crash occurred.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was activated and responded to the scene to investigate the incident.
A resident in the area heard the loud crash and was the one to call 911 to report it, Seeley said.
The roadway was shut down for approximately four hours on Sunday morning before being reopened following the investigation and removal of the vehicle by a tow truck.
Seeley said he does not have any information on possible contributing factors to the crash yet.
The incident remains under active investigation by MCAT and the Mundelein Police Department.