For many reasons, bicycle accidents often result in serious accident injuries – and, at times, fatalities – and as such remain a traffic safety concern.  On this site, bicycle accidents in Lake County have been summarized in various posts in the “bicycle accidents” category, and various aspects of such accidents – including medical and legal issues – are further discussed in the “Lake County IL Bicycle Accidents” as well as the “Regarding A Bicycle Accident” page.  Additional important aspects of bicycle accidents – including impaired drivers and the threat they pose to bicyclists, as well as the importance of helmet use, are discussed on the “Bicycle Accidents – Impaired Drivers” and the “Bicycle Accidents And Helmet Use” pages.

On June 19, 2017 there was a bicycle accident in North Barrington from which a bicyclist was left with critical injuries.

An excerpt regarding the accident, from the June 19, 2017 Daily Herald article titled “Bicyclist struck by van in North Barrington“:

According to sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Covelli, a 19-year-old man from Crystal Lake was riding on a bicycle north on Biltmore Drive just after noon when he turned right onto Miller Road to head east. The preliminary investigation showed the bicyclist turned into a full-size work van driven by a 29-year-old man from Fox Lake that also was traveling east, Covelli said.

As a result of the crash, the bicyclist was left with serious injuries.  He was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge for treatment of accident injuries.

The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.

This Lake County bicycle accident remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Traffic Crash Investigations Unit.

Additional details and possible updates concerning this Lake County bicycle accident can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the Daily Herald article mentioned above as well as the June 20 Lake Zurich Courier article titled “Bicyclist remains in critical condition after crash in North Barrington.”

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There was a fatal “chain-reaction” crash on the Tri-State Tollway (I-94) at Buckley Road on Sunday (April 30, 2017) morning.

According to information provided by the Illinois State Police (ISP), the crash happened at 11:49 a.m. and involved six vehicles.

An excerpt regarding the crash, from the Deerfield Patch article of May 1, 2017 titled “One Dead After Six-Car Crash On I-94“:

The accident began after the 62-year-old driver of a 2007 Dodge, Anita Silvert of Northbrook, lost control and hit a 2005 Honda Pilot, driven by 59-year-old Roberto Maldonado of Kenosha, according the preliminary investigation by the state police.

One man, a driver of a 2015 Dodge Caravan, died from his accident injuries after being taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.  He was identified as Allen Kenngott, 62, of Akron, Ohio.

At least two other people were injured during the crash, involving one who was critically injured.

Additional details and possible updates concerning this fatal tollway crash in Lake County can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the Deerfield Patch article mentioned above as well as the May 1 Chicago Sun-Times article titled “1 dead, 2 injured in 6-vehicle crash on Tri-State.”

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Driving while impaired continues to be a major cause in Illinois traffic accidents, many of which have caused serious accident injuries.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) on its Medline Plus page titled “Impaired Driving” discusses and defines impaired driving as:

Impaired driving is dangerous. It’s the cause of more than half of all car crashes. It means operating a motor vehicle while you are affected by

• Alcohol
• Legal or illegal drugs
• Sleepiness
• Distractions, such as using a cell phone or texting
• Having a medical condition which affects your driving

As seen in many statistics, driving after drinking is a major issue around holidays.  The Illinois Department of Transportation issued a news release on December 28, 2016, titled “A New Year’s Resolution to Drive Sober, Buckle Up.” (pdf)

An excerpt:

Crash data compiled by IDOT shows that in the last five years (2011-15), 49 people died in crashes on Illinois roads during the New Year’s holiday period. Twenty, or 41 percent, died in crashes involving at least one driver who had been drinking. During last year’s New Year’s holiday, 16 people lost their lives, with six fatalities, or 38 percent, as a result of crashes involving at least one driver who tested positive for alcohol.

“DUI remains one of the top contributing factors in fatal crashes around the holidays,” said Illinois State Police Director Leo P. Schmitz. “ISP Troopers will be conducting roadside safety checks and roving patrols, looking for and arresting intoxicated motorists. Remember, drive sober or get pulled over.”

Also seen in the press release is various tips for avoiding drunk driving.

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In the May 16, 2016 post (“Driver Dies Following Crash On Route 120 In Grayslake“) a crash is summarized which led to the death of Malia Johnson.  The crash happened on Route 120 in Grayslake.

Recently, a wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in Lake County Circuit Court regarding this accident.  The lawsuit is being filed on behalf of Malia Johnson’s family members.

The lawsuit is summarized in the June 23, 2016 Lake County News-Sun article titled “Wrongful-death suit filed in crash that killed Grayslake woman.”

Two excerpts from the article:

The family of a Grayslake chiropractor killed in a May 13 crash on Route 120 filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in Lake County Circuit Court Wednesday against one of the drivers reportedly involved in the multiple-vehicle collision.

also, a comment referring to defendant Shawn Flores:

The lawsuit says that Flores, “while in a state of intoxication,” crossed the centerline on Route 120 and struck Johnson’s vehicle head-on.

Additional details regarding this wrongful death lawsuit and underlying accident can be seen in the sources mentioned above.

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There has been a wrongful death lawsuit filed regarding a fatal motorcycle accident that happened on August 26, 2015.  That accident, which happened on Route 173, near Antioch, was originally summarized on this site in the August 27, 2015 post titled “Fatal Motorcycle Accident Near Antioch.”  The motorcyclist killed during the crash (i.e. decedent) was Gregory Boyes, 50, of Antioch.

The wrongful death lawsuit is discussed in various media sources, including the April 27, 2016 Daily Herald article titled “Mother of Antioch man killed in motorcycle crash files lawsuit against suspect, 2 taverns” as well as the Lake County News-Sun article of April 22 titled “Mother sues suspect, taverns in accident that killed son.”

The lawsuit was filed in Lake County Circuit Court on April 11, 2016.

An excerpt from the Daily Herald article:

Anita Afremow filed the lawsuit April 11 in Lake County circuit court on behalf of her deceased son, Gregory Boyes, 50. The suit names Leena A. Ultsch, 34, of Antioch Township, and the Tracks on Grand of Lake Villa and the Limerick Lounge of Antioch as defendants.

According to the complaint, Ultsch is accused of driving her automobile while impaired, and of following Boyes too closely. The court document also stated Ultsch operated her motor vehicle without adequate brakes, didn’t keep a proper lookout ahead of her, and failed to decrease speed to avoid a crash with Boyes.

Additional details and possible updates concerning this motorcycle accident lawsuit can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the Daily Herald and Lake County News-Sun articles mentioned above.

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