Police say an electric bicycle rider is suspected to have run a red light before being struck by a pickup truck on Route 31 in McHenry, requiring him to be flown to the hospital in critical condition.
The McHenry Township Fire Protection District and McHenry Police Department responded around 8:05 p.m. Monday to the area of Route 31 and McCullom Lake Road in McHenry for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
Fire department radio traffic indicated a victim was down in the roadway after a crash involving a bicycle and a vehicle.
McHenry Township Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Chris Kozel said fire crews arrived to find an adult male who had been struck by a vehicle.
The 22-year-old man was lying in the roadway when paramedics arrived.
A preliminary investigation determined that a Postjoy F30 e-bike was traveling eastbound on McCullom Lake Road, the McHenry Police Department said.
The e-bike turned left to go northbound onto Richmond Road directly in front of a GMC pickup truck, which was traveling northbound on Richmond Road.
The investigation suggests that the truck had the green light and the e-bike disregarded the traffic light, police officials said.
The vehicles involved came to rest just north of the intersection along Route 31, also known as Richmond Road, in the northbound lanes.
Kozel said he estimated the man was ejected approximately 15-20 feet from the bicycle. He was the sole rider.
A LifeNet medical helicopter was placed on standby and then it was determined that it was needed.
An ambulance transported the victim to the LifeNet base helipad at Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry.
The man was transferred to the flight crew, which flew the victim to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Kozel said. It is a Level 1 trauma center.
Kozel said no injuries were reported in the vehicle. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet.
He was reported to be in critical condition at the time of transport, Kozel said. Police said his condition was stabilized as of Tuesday.
The 38-year-old man driving the GMC pickup truck remained at the scene and was cooperative throughout the investigation.
The McHenry County Regional Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was called to the scene to conduct an investigation.
The team consists of police officers from the McHenry Police Department, Woodstock Police Department, Spring Grove Police Department, Harvard Police Department, Cary Police Department, Johnsburg Police Department, Lake in the Hills Police Department and Richmond Police Department.
Witnesses at the scene provided additional information and assisted officers with the investigation, police officials said.
The northbound lanes of Route 31 at McCullom Lake Road were shut down for several hours.
It is unknown whether any charges or citations will be issued.
Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Division of the McHenry Police Department at 815-363-2599.
Those wishing to provide information anonymously are encouraged to call the McHenry Police Department’s tip line at 815-363-2124. All calls made to the tip line are anonymous as Caller ID is not used.