A man in his 30s, suspected to be under the influence, was flown to the hospital in serious condition after the sheriff says his motorcycle crashed off the roadway near Marengo Monday evening.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts responded around 10:19 p.m. Monday to the area of Route 23 and Poplar Road in unincorporated Marengo for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
Fire crews arrived and reported finding a single-vehicle motorcycle crash off the roadway east of Route 23 on Poplar Road.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Marengo Police Department and McHenry County Conservation Police Department also responded to assist.
A preliminary investigation showed that a 2014 Harley-Davidson Touring was traveling eastbound on Poplar Road, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.
The section of roadway where the Harley-Davidson was traveling is asphalt but changes to a gravel roadway.
The operator, a 39-year-old Marengo man, lost control of the motorcycle and it exited the roadway to the north, the sheriff’s office said.
The motorcycle rolled over and the driver was ejected. He was the sole occupant of the Harley-Davidson.
A LifeNet medical helicopter was requested and landed in the roadway at the scene.
Sheriff’s officials said the man was transported by the helicopter to Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital — Riverside in Rockford where he was listed in serious condition.
A helmet was not located at the scene.
Alcohol and speed are believed to be contributing factors in the crash, sheriff’s officials said.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit responded to the scene and the roadway was shut down for an extended period for the investigation.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit.