A 23-year-old Woodstock man has been identified after he died in a motorcycle crash involving a pickup truck in Naperville that injured his girlfriend, as his family says he will be “deeply missed” by those who knew him.
The Naperville Police Department and Naperville Fire Department responded around 11:17 p.m. on August 4 to the intersection of Warrenville Road and Washington Street for the report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
Police officials said officers arrived and found a two-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle and a pickup truck.
A black 2007 Ford F-150, east of the intersection, sustained heavy damage to the front left quarter panel in the crash.
A yellow 2003 Honda motorcycle was lying on its side next to the pickup truck and had significant damage, police officials said.
The motorcycle was driven by Justin M. Raymond, 23, of Woodstock.
Officers and firefighter-paramedics provided emergency medical attention to Raymond and the passenger of the motorcycle, who was Raymond’s girlfriend, Allysa Lawrence, 22, of Woodstock.
Raymond was unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene.
Lawrence was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police officials said the driver of the Ford pickup truck, a 20-year-old West Chicago man, was evaluated and refused medical treatment at the scene.
A preliminary investigation showed that the Honda motorcycle was traveling eastbound on Warrenville Road from Washington Street when it collided with the Ford pickup truck.
The Ford was making a left-hand turn onto westbound Warrenville Road from a private drive on the south side of the street when the collision occurred, police said.
Nouman Kaiser told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that he was trying to process what happened after the incident.
He said he was on a group motorcycle ride that ended and he went on another ride with a few friends.
Kaiser was heading home when he saw flashing emergency lights ahead and slowed down as he approached, worried it might have been some of his friends from the ride.
“I stopped and started asking, ‘What happened?’ and ‘Who was involved?’ Everything felt surreal. I ran into a few riders who had been part of the larger group ride earlier,” Kaiser said.
He said the group told him the motorcycle riders involved were on their way home when a truck made a left turn. “The driver didn’t see the motorcycle, and the bike collided with the truck.”
“Hearing them explain what happened was heartbreaking. Then, when they covered the rider, I knew he was no longer with us. Everyone around us broke down in tears. It was an incredibly emotional and devastating moment,” Kaiser said.
“The police told us that unless we were directly involved in the investigation, we needed to leave the scene. We respected their instructions, rode to a safe location, and took some time to gather ourselves before making the ride home,” he added.
Traffic crash investigators from the Naperville Police Department’s Traffic Unit responded to the scene to investigate.
Warrenville Road was shut down in both directions from Washington Street to Lucent Lane until approximately 3:45 a.m. the following day.
An obituary for Raymond said he “will be deeply missed” and worked as a barber at 815 Woodstock where he built a loyal clientele who “quickly became more than just customers, they became friends.”
Raymond had a passion for cars and motorcycles and a “special place in his heart” for animals.
“Above all, Justin was a fierce and loyal friend. He had a contagious smile, a goofy sense of humor, and a way of making everyone around him feel welcome. He loved spending time with his friends, laughing, having fun, and simply enjoying life. Justin never met a stranger; everyone he encountered had the chance to feel his warmth and kindness,” his family said in his obituary.
“His unforgettable smile, playful spirit, and genuine heart will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and loving him,” the obituary said.
A GoFundMe account created for Lawrence has raised over $6,000 as of Thursday.
A friend of Lawrence who started the fundraiser said Lawrence is facing an “unimaginable heartbreak” after the crash, which changed everything.
Lawrence is grieving the devastating loss and is also undergoing surgery to repair broken bones, the friend said. “As she tries to heal from her injuries and process the loss of someone she loves so deeply, the last thing she should have to worry about is how to manage these overwhelming expenses alone.”
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has any additional information is asked to contact the Naperville Police Department Traffic Unit at 630-420-6117.