Funeral services were held for a Mundelein man in his 40s as his family says their “hearts are broken into pieces” after an SUV turned in front of his motorcycle, causing a three-vehicle crash in Mettawa.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District and Libertyville Fire Department responded around 8:50 p.m. on July 6 to the area of Route 60 and Saint Mary’s Road in Mettawa for a vehicle crash with injuries.
Initial 911 callers reported a motorcycle-involved crash with the victim not conscious and not breathing, according to fire department radio traffic.
Fire crews arrived and reported CPR was in progress on the unresponsive victim.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified him last week as Michael Swidrak, 43, of Mundelein. His family spelled his first name as Michal.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said sheriff’s deputies arrived and found a three-vehicle crash.
The driver of a 2022 Honda Motorcycle, identified as Swidrak, was unconscious and not breathing.
Covelli said lifesaving efforts were attempted at the scene by first responders but Swidrak was pronounced dead at the scene.
A preliminary investigation shows the Honda motorcycle was traveling westbound on Route 60.
The Honda proceeded through a green light at the intersection with Saint Mary’s Road.
A 2024 Chevrolet Trax, driven by a 55-year-old Waukegan woman, was traveling eastbound on Route 60 and made a left turn onto northbound Saint Mary’s Road in front of the motorcycle, Covelli said.
Swidrak was unable to avoid the collision and struck the passenger side of the Chevrolet.
The collision caused Swidrak to be ejected from the motorcycle.
The motorcycle then struck a Hyundai SUV, which was facing southbound on Saint Mary’s Road, Covelli said. None of the three occupants in the Hyundai were injured.
The driver of the Chevrolet suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Lake Forest. She is cooperating with the investigation, Covelli said.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and an autopsy was later performed on Swidrak.
It confirmed he died as a result of blunt force injuries from the crash, Banek said.
The intersection of Route 60 and Saint Mary’s Road was completely shut down for several hours.
A private family funeral service was held late last week and a public celebration of life will be held in the future.
Swidrak’s obituary said he was born in Poland and leaves behind several family members, including a nephew “whom he loved unconditionally.”
“Mikey treasured his family above all else. Whether celebrating holidays together or simply enjoying each other’s company, he valued every moment spent with those he loved. He lived life on his own terms, guided by his own convictions, and remained true to himself throughout his life,” his obituary said.
“He had a special place in his heart for dogs and found joy in Formula 1 racing, long bike rides, and sharing laughs with family and friends. Mikey had an incredible sense of humor and could quote just about any great ’80s movie at a moment’s notice, always bringing smiles to those around him,” his obituary added.
The family said in a statement that their “hearts are broken into pieces, and nothing makes sense.”
“We know that things will never be the same without you here, but we will keep you in our hearts for eternity. You are so incredibly missed. We love you, Mikey,” they said.
The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Team.