A 26-year-old South Elgin man has been identified as the motorcyclist killed in a crash at Randall Road and Thornwood Avenue, after a Mercedes sedan collided with his Honda motorcycle while turning left. Police cited the Mercedes driver for driving too fast for conditions and failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident, but the investigation remains open.
Victim Identified, Death Confirmed by Coroner
Authorities identified Piotr Wendel as the man killed in the crash, which happened on October 7, according to Shaw Local. Wendel was driving a Honda motorcycle southbound on Randall Road when the crash occurred, and he was ejected from the bike after it collided with the sedan. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his death was later confirmed by the Kane County Coroner's Office.
The South Elgin Police Department responded to the crash around 6:47 p.m. at the intersection of Randall Road and Thornwood Avenue. South Elgin police's preliminary investigation indicated that the Mercedes collided with Wendel's motorcycle as the sedan attempted to turn left from Randall Road onto Thornwood Avenue. The roadway was closed for more than five hours while the investigation unfolded.
Driver Cited, Taken to Hospital
The driver of the Mercedes C300 was identified as 67-year-old Mercedes Lizalde of Elgin. She was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. Police issued Lizalde citations for driving too fast for conditions and for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident, per the same report.
Several local agencies responded to assist at the scene, including the South Elgin Fire District, the Kane County Office of Emergency Management, the St. Charles Police Department, the Kane County Sheriff's Office, and the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team. Police said the crash remains under investigation, and the article notes that South Elgin police have asked anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact the department.
Part of a Troubling Pattern on Illinois Roads
Wendel's death follows other similar crashes across the region. In Chicago's Sauganash neighborhood, a 37-year-old motorcyclist was killed in September when an SUV turned in front of him; the driver was cited for failure to yield, though additional citations remained possible as that investigation continued, according to NBC Chicago. A sedan driver was also cited after a 2025 crash in Algonquin that killed a 29-year-old motorcyclist, per Lake and McHenry County Scanner.
No further details on the South Elgin investigation have been released, and authorities have not indicated whether additional findings or charges may follow.
