A 29-year-old Waukegan man died early Sunday after his Ford Explorer drifted off Route 137 in Green Oaks and slammed into a raised concrete barrier in the center median. He was the SUV's only occupant and was found unresponsive at the scene before being rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The Libertyville Fire Department and Lake County Sheriff's Office responded around 4:10 a.m. to the area of Route 137, also known as Buckley Road, just east of Interstate 94, according to Lake McHenry Scanner. A preliminary investigation found the Explorer had been traveling westbound before it drifted from the westbound lanes onto the median and struck the barrier. The man was transported by ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, according to Lake McHenry Scanner; the Daily Herald reported that he later died.
Cause of the Drift Still Unclear
Authorities said they do not yet know why the SUV began drifting out of its lane before the crash. The outlet's report quotes an official simply stating that the reason remains unknown, leaving investigators without an explanation for how the vehicle ended up crossing into the median.
The driver's identity has not been publicly released, and officials have not disclosed any additional details about him beyond his age and hometown. The Lake County Coroner's Office is scheduling an autopsy to help determine more about the circumstances of his death.
Technical Crash Team Continues Probe
The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff's Office Technical Crash Investigations Team. No further updates on the cause of the drift or the driver's identity had been released as of Sunday morning.
