Funeral services were held for a Park City father of five and grandfather of three, who “left a lasting impression,” after he died in a freak accident where a wheel detached from a trailer, striking him in Gurnee.
Domingo Ocampo, 60, of Park City, was riding an electric scooter in the area of northbound Route 41 near the Grand Avenue exit in Gurnee around 5:25 p.m. on July 27.
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 the electric scooter, which was operated by Ocampo, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
An ambulance responded and firefighter/paramedics rushed Ocampo to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with critical injuries.
A preliminary investigation showed Ocampo 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 was listed in critical condition but died two weeks later in the intensive care unit at Advocate Condell Medical Center on August 8, Banek said.
The man driving the Ford was not injured, Gaylor said. He remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.
A preliminary coroner’s investigation shows that Ocampo died from complications of blunt force head injuries as a result of the incident, Banek said.
An obituary for Ocampo said he leaves behind five children and three grandchildren, along with brothers and sisters and many other family members.
Ocampo came to the United States from Mexico in his early 20s and had the hope of building a life for himself and his family.
“Through years of hard work and dedication, he built a life centered around his family, perseverance, and love for those around him,” his obituary said, adding that he worked as a landscaper for most of his life and was a hardworking person who “took pride in providing for his family and appreciated spending quality time with the people he loved.”
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.
The obituary for Ocampo said he was a man of strong faith and that many people came to visit him and shared stories about him while he was in the hospital.
“People from different chapters of his life—neighbors, coworkers, friends, and others he had met along the way—made the effort to be there. The stories and kind words they shared were a beautiful reminder of the impact Domingo had on the people around him. He may not have sought recognition, but he left a lasting impression through the way he treated others and the relationships he built throughout his life,” his family said in the obituary.
Authorities have asked that anyone with footage of the crash 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.
A GoFundMe account created by Ocampo’s family, while he was hospitalized, said he was a father facing a long and difficult road ahead but was a “fighter.” His family called it a “horrible accident” that has caused an “extremely difficult time” for them.
A visitation, funeral service and burial were held at Warren Funeral Home and Warren Cemetery on Monday and Tuesday.
The crash remains under investigation by the Gurnee Police Department and MCAT.