The sheriff states that a Corvette was traveling at high speeds and dangerously overtaking other cars prior to an airborne rollover accident which resulted in the death of the 57-year-old driver near Harvard on Saturday afternoon.
Around 3:03 p.m. on Saturday, the Harvard Fire Protection District along with the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 24700 block of Route 173 in unincorporated Harvard due to reports of a vehicular accident involving injuries.
Alex Vucha, the public information officer for the Harvard Fire Protection District, stated that early 911 reports suggested a car had overturned.
The individuals who called mentioned that the vehicle had flipped onto its roof, with someone potentially stuck inside.
Shortly after the incident, first responders reached the location and discovered a lone vehicle heavily damaged at the site, according to Vucha.
The sheriff's department stated on Monday that the 1984 Chevrolet Corvette was heading east on Route 173.
The Corvette was speeding past other cars before the accident, according to law enforcement authorities, based on an initial inquiry.
The Corvette left the road heading north, became airborne, and flipped over. It ended up upside down on its roof.
Vucha mentioned that the vehicle was found about 75 feet away from the road within a field.
The sheriff's department stated that the operator of the car, a 57-year-old male from Capron, was traveling alone at the time of the incident.
He suffered critical injuries in the accident and was declared deceased upon arrival. The incident did not involve any additional vehicles.
Route 173 was closed in both directions between White Oaks Road and County Line Road for multiple hours and then reopened approximately at 8 p.m.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Crash Investigation Unit along with the McHenry County Coroner’s Office are looking into the accident. They suggest that speeding and reckless driving likely contributed to the incident.
The identity of the driver hasn't been disclosed yet, and the coroner's office is currently arranging for an autopsy.