The coroner has identified a 28-year-old Mundelein police officer as the victim who was ejected from his motorcycle and found dead following a crash in McHenry Sunday morning.
The McHenry Police Department and McHenry Township Fire Protection District responded around 1:16 a.m. Sunday to the area of Charles J. Miller Parkway and McHenry Avenue for a report of a single-vehicle crash with injuries.
McHenry Police Department Public Affairs Officer Ashley O’Herron said a passing motorist stopped to call 911 and also flagged down an IMG Ambulance Company ambulance that happened to be driving past.
A preliminary investigation determined a green 2023 Kawasaki Ninja 650 motorcycle was traveling westbound on Charles J. Miller Parkway.
McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein on Tuesday identified the driver as Paul Viduya Jr., 28, of McHenry.
The Kawasaki left the roadway and ejected Viduya, who was the sole occupant and operator, O’Herron said.
The motorcycle was found in the eastbound lanes of travel on Charles J. Miller Parkway and Viduya was located in the center median.
O’Herron said lifesaving measures were attempted but Viduya was pronounced dead at the scene by the McHenry County Coroner’s Office. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Mundelein Village Administrator Eric Guenther announced on Sunday that a member of the Mundelein Police Department had “passed away suddenly and tragically while off duty.”
“Right now, our focus is on supporting the family of this individual and respecting the family’s privacy while they grieve the loss of their loved one,” Guenther said while not immediately identifying the officer.
The Vernon Hills Police Department said in a now-deleted social media post that their “thoughts and prayers are with our partners at the Mundelein Police Department during this difficult time.”
“We stand beside you and offer our heartfelt support to your officers, staff, families, and the entire community,” the department said. No funeral arrangements have been announced yet.
Viduya began his career with the Mundelein Police Department as a community service officer before graduating from the law enforcement academy and becoming a police officer with the department in September 2022.
The McHenry County Regional Crash Assistance Team responded to the crash scene to assist in the investigation.
The team consists of police officers from the McHenry Police Department, Woodstock Police Department, Spring Grove Police Department, Harvard Police Department, Cary Police Department, Johnsburg Police Department, Lake in the Hills Police Department and Richmond Police Department.
There were no witnesses to the crash, O’Herron said. An autopsy performed Tuesday showed Viduya died as a result of blunt force injuries.
Charles J. Miller Parkway was closed for approximately four hours while the investigation was conducted, O’Herron said.
Anyone who has information related to the case is asked to contact the McHenry Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 815-363- 2599.
Those wishing to pass along anonymous information are asked to call the McHenry Police Department’s tip line at 815-363-2124, which does not use caller ID.