Funeral services were held for an 18-year-old from Spring Grove, who was a recent Grant High School graduate known for his “kind heart and easy smile,” after he died in a high-speed fiery crash in Richmond.
Richmond Police Chief Ciro Cetrangolo said a Richmond police officer was conducting an unrelated traffic stop around 7:37 p.m. on July 5 when he saw a silver sedan traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on Route 173 in the oncoming lane of traffic.
The Toyota was driving at around 100 mph, according to police radio traffic and witnesses. The speed limit for that stretch of Route 173 is 35 mph.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified the driver of the Toyota as John Ethan Regan-Langrick, 18, of Spring Grove.
“Shortly thereafter, the officer came upon a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 173 and Route 12,” Cetrangolo said.
The crash involved the silver 2010 Toyota Corolla that was seen driving recklessly moments earlier.
An initial investigation shows Regan-Langrick was driving the Toyota westbound on Route 173 approaching Route 12 at a high rate of speed, Cetrangolo said.
The Toyota entered the intersection and crashed into a white 2021 Nissan Armada, driven by an adult female, that was towing a camper trailer.
The impact caused the camper trailer to separate from its frame and end up on Route 12 south of the intersection.
Both the Toyota and Nissan sustained major damage.
The Richmond police officer who pulled up on the crash immediately requested additional police units and fire/rescue personnel to respond, according to radio traffic.
Regan-Langrick was reportedly unconscious but breathing.
Police officers and McHenry County sheriff’s deputies, along with the Richmond Township Fire Protection District and multiple other area fire departments, rushed to the scene.
Both of the drivers were trapped and were extricated by firefighter-medics.
There were no other occupants in either vehicle.
LifeNet 3-1, a medical helicopter based out of McHenry, was requested to land at the Richmond Fire Station located at 5601 Hunter Drive and meet firefighter/medics.
The woman in the Nissan was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital in stable condition.
Regan-Langrick was transported briefly by ambulance to the fire station, where he was then transferred to the flight crew and flown to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, a Level 1 trauma center.
Regan-Langrick was in critical condition at the time of transport, fire officials said.
Banek announced two days later that Regan-Langrick, who was in the intensive care unit at Condell, had died on July 6 from complications of blunt force injuries suffered in the collision.
A visitation to celebrate Regan-Langrick’s life was held on July 12 at Thompson Spring Grove Funeral Home followed by a friends and family gathering at the McHenry Moose Lodge in Johnsburg.
Regan-Langrick was a recent graduate of Grant Community High School in Fox Lake and was “excited for everything the future had in store,” his obituary said.
“Preliminary findings indicate that vehicle speed appears to be a contributing factor in the crash,” Cetrangolo said.
The crash left a large debris field on Route 173.
A business on the corner, Value Discount Flooring, was damaged, along with a nearby utility pole.
Due to the severity of the crash, the McHenry County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) – composed of investigators from the Cary, Harvard, Johnsburg, McHenry, Spring Grove, Richmond and Woodstock police departments – was activated and responded to reconstruct the crash.
All four directions of Route 12 and Route 173 were shut down into the early morning hours while MCAT worked the scene.
Investigators were seen taking photos, measurements and conducting interviews with bystanders as part of the accident reconstruction.
“Ethan was incredibly creative and loved expressing himself through art. From graffiti-inspired designs to detailed drawings, he had a unique talent and a style all his own. He also loved skateboarding, cars, and spending time working on them,” his family said in an obituary.
“Whether he was learning something new, getting his hands dirty, or talking about his next project, Ethan’s passion for automobiles was undeniable, and he hoped to one day become an auto mechanic,” the obituary said.
An employee at the nearby Gigi’s Cafe, named Charles, told Lake and McHenry County Scanner he was inside working when he heard an explosion-like noise.
“I knew it wasn’t fireworks,” he said. Charles immediately looked outside to see the crash, with flames coming from the engine compartment area of the Toyota.
He quickly grabbed the restaurant’s fire extinguisher and ran outside. Charles and another man both used their fire extinguishers on the fire.
Numerous other good Samaritans worked together to check and render aid to those involved in the crash.
“He’s breathing, he’s breathing!” Charles heard them saying about the man in the Toyota.
Cetrangolo credited the good Samaritans for their actions.
“The Richmond Police Department wishes to thank the good Samaritans who stopped and assisted at the scene before police and fire personnel arrived,” the police chief said.
“More than anything, Ethan will be remembered for his kind heart, easy smile, and the way he made people feel welcome. He had a great sense of humor, was always willing to help others, and deeply valued the time he spent with his family and friends. Though his life was far too short, the memories he created, the art he left behind, and the love he shared will remain with everyone who knew him,” his obituary said.
Towing crews from Fox Recovery & Towing and Marathon Towing responded to remove the vehicles involved and help clean up the debris.
Specialty towing vehicles, including a lowboy trailer for the camper involved, were brought to the scene.
1-800-BOARDUP also responded and performed damage restoration for Value Discount Flooring.
Regan-Langrick leaves behind his parents, a brother, his girlfriend, his grandparents, aunts and uncles and other family members.
The crash remains under investigation by MCAT.
“Additional information will be released upon the conclusion of the MCAT investigation,” Cetrangolo said.