Two wheels detached from a trailer and one of them hit a man riding an electric scooter on Route 41 in Gurnee, causing him to suffer critical and life-threatening injuries Monday evening.
The Gurnee Police Department and Gurnee Fire Department responded around 5:25 p.m. Monday to northbound Route 41 near the Grand Avenue exit in Gurnee for a report of a vehicle crash.
Gurnee Battalion Fire Chief Nick Perry said he was returning to Gurnee Fire Station #1 after an unrelated call when several people flagged him down for the crash.
The crash involved a Ford F-450 and an electric scooter.
An ambulance responded, and firefighter/paramedics rushed the 60-year-old scooter rider to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with critical injuries.
A preliminary investigation shows the 60-year-old man from Park City was riding his e-scooter northbound along the shoulder of Route 41, Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor said.
At the same time, the Ford, driven by a 45-year-old Waukegan man, was traveling northbound on Route 41.
The Ford was pulling a trailer with a front-loader, Gaylor said.
“During the incident, two wheels became detached from the trailer. One of the wheels struck the scooter rider, causing life-threatening injuries,” Gaylor said.
The man is listed in critical condition as of Tuesday afternoon.
The man driving the Ford was not injured, Gaylor said. He remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.
Due to the severity of the crash, the Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) of Lake County was requested to help investigate the crash.
The northbound lanes of Route 41 were shut down at Washington Street for several hours while investigators worked the scene.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Auxiliary Deputy Unit assisted with road closures.
Ernie’s Wrecker Service and Lin-Mar Towing & Recovery responded to remove both the F-450 and the trailer with the front-loader.
The northbound lanes were reopened at around 10 p.m.
Authorities are asking anyone with footage of the crash to contact the Gurnee Police Department.
“Anyone who may have captured the incident on a vehicle dash camera is asked to contact the Gurnee Police Department,” Gaylor said.
“Investigators are particularly interested in footage recorded near U.S. Route 41 and Grand Avenue around 5:25 p.m. on July 27,” Gaylor added.
The crash remains under investigation by the Gurnee Police Department and MCAT.