Coroner IDs Man, 23, Killed In Crash

MCHENRY, IL — Authorities have identified a 23-year-old Lake Villa-area man killed early Thursday when his Audi veered off a road near McHenry, struck several trees and broke into pieces.

Jose Hernandez, of unincorporated Lake Villa, died from blunt force injuries sustained in the Oct. 15 crash, according to preliminary autopsy results released by the Lake County Coroner's Office.

The single-vehicle crash occurred at about 1:35 a.m. near West Dowell and West Neville roads in unincorporated McHenry, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

A preliminary investigation found a McHenry County sheriff's deputy clocked Hernandez's Audi S4 traveling 74 mph in a 35-mph zone as it headed east on Dowell Road toward Neville Road, authorities said.

As the deputy attempted to turn around, the Audi driver appeared to accelerate and lost control of the vehicle, according to the sheriff's office.

The Audi left the roadway, traveled approximately 200 feet and struck several trees. The impact caused the vehicle to break into several pieces and ejected Hernandez, authorities said.

Hernandez was critically injured and transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room.

An autopsy was conducted Thursday at the Lake County Coroner's Office, which determined Hernandez died from blunt force injuries sustained in the crash, according to preliminary findings.

The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff's Office Technical Crash Investigations Team.