McHenry County Blog

A motorcyclist got hit by a motorist at Briarwood and Rt. 176 Saturday.

My preferred route to Woodstock takes me across Route 176 on Briarwood.

I nominate it as the most dangerous corner in Crystal Lake. It most certainly needs a traffic light and I can’t understand why Crystal Lake and state officials don’t install one.

Today a motorcyclist without a helmet got hit by a motorist who said he didn’t see the smaller vehicle.

Below is the Crystal Lake Police Department’s press release about the accident.

Crystal Lake Traffic Crash June 25th, 2011

On Saturday, June 25th, 2011, at approximately 1:00pm, emergency crews from the Crystal Lake Fire/Rescue and Police Departments responded to a report of a traffic crash on Route 176 at the intersection with Briarwood Road involving a motorcyclist.
Upon arrival crews determined a motorcyclist, operating a 2007 Yamaha, was struck by a motorist, operating a 2007 Honda Odyssey, in the intersection.

The motorcyclist, identified as Kevin Franzen (41) of Channahon, IL, was treated by Crystal Lake Fire/Rescue for head and shoulder injuries sustained as a result of the collision. Franzen, who was not wearing a helmet, was transported to Memorial Hospital in Woodstock for further treatment. His injuries are not life-threatening.

The subsequent traffic crash investigation revealed James Golnik (71), a resident of McHenry, IL, was traveling westbound on Route 176 while operating the Honda Odyssey.

Franzen was traveling eastbound on Route 176.

Both men entered the intersection with Briarwood Road in opposing directions.

Franzen intended on proceeding through the intersection. Golnik turned left toward southbound Briarwood Road and struck Franzen’s motorcycle.

Golnik reported he did not see the motorcycle and believed he was struck from behind by another vehicle.

However, witnesses on scene reported Golnik turned into the motorcycle and he was not struck by any other vehicle.

Golnik was cited with Improper Left Turn at an Intersection and Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle, Illinois Complied Statutes 625ILCS 5.0/11-902 and 5.0/3-707. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 21st, 2011 at the McHenry County Courthouse.

Traffic on Route 176 between Briarwood Road and Route 14 was closed for approximately 25 minutes.

West Elementary School, Crystal Lake, Illinois

Parents of District 47 children are receiving phone calls about an attempted abduction of a 9-year old girl at the corner of Briarwood and North Avenue on the west end of Crystal Lake.

The girl was walking to school when a 20-40 year old male with tan skin and dark brown hair asked her if she wanted a ride to school.

She said, “No,” and ran down the street several blocks to West Elementary School.

The intersection of Briarwood and North Avenue long after the 13 police officers, mainly Sheriff's Deputies, had left.

The man, driving a tan 4-door sedan, was described as wearing as clean shaven and wearing not glasses or jewelry.

The abduction attempt occurred between 8:35 and 8:47 AM.

Lori Parrish, the Crystal Lake Grade School Communications Director, made the phone call. She asked that parents discuss with their children the problem of “stranger danger.”

No wonder so many parents insist on driving their children to and from school.

= = = = =
Apparently, the crime took place outside of Crystal Lake’s city limits, because the Crystal Lake Police Department is reporting that the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department has primary jurisdiction.

When I took the photos I measured the distance from North Avenue to the school.  It was two-tenths of a mile.

As I was driving back from the McHenry County Government Center the back way, I came upon an accident at the dangerous intersection of Briarwood and Route 176.

Briarwood is the first major intersection west of Route 14 in Crystal Lake.

As I approached from the north I saw two fire vehicles. I drove across 176 and took this photo.

Driving past I saw a pickup truck had collided with the back of a car.

Here’s what the pickup looked like. Looks like a light on top of the cab.

The car’s rear end was bashed in.

Eventually, the Crystal Lake Police arrived.

This is a very dangerous intersection crying for a traffic light.

This is the corner that the traffic study conducted for Pete Heitman’s and Mark Houser’s baseball stadium at McHenry County College completely ignored.

Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen pointed that out during the zoning debate prior to the “No” votes by him and Councilman Ralph Dawson doomed the project.

It’s time for a traffic light.

Click to enlarge any image.

Trying to get good photos of cellular towers, I stopped on Briarwood north of Route 176 and took this photo.

This cell tower is located just north of the old Christ farm.

As an aside for those interested in the Cary Park District’s efforts to sell off valuable commercial space on Route 31 may I suggest that the part of the old Christ Farm that fronts on Route 14 south of the high power lines might someday present a similar way for the Crystal Lake Board to raise money to finance something?

But back to the tower.

Quite ornamental, wouldn’t you say?

T-Mobile says the tower proposed in Ken Bird Park will be a pole. No close-up photograph was provided to show what the top will look like at the selected and park board-approved park site.

Trying to get good photos of cellular towers, I stopped on Briarwood north of Route 176 and took this photo.

This cell tower is located just north of the old Christ farm.

As an aside for those interested in the Cary Park District’s efforts to sell off valuable commercial space on Route 31 may I suggest that the part of the old Christ Farm that fronts on Route 14 south of the high power lines might someday present a similar way for the Crystal Lake Board to raise money to finance something?

But back to the tower.

Quite ornamental, wouldn’t you say?

T-Mobile says the tower proposed in Ken Bird Park will be a pole. No close-up photograph was provided to show what the top will look like at the selected and park board-approved park site.

If you have ever tried to pull out on Route 176 from Briarwood across from Sunset Park in Crystal Lake, you know how dangerous the intersection is.

The last time I drove to Woodstock the back way—the way I’ll get to Super Walmart after Crystal Lake, under Mayor Aaron Shepley’s leadership, raises its sales tax 75% on July 1st—I noticed a safety improvement.

There was a blinking red light above the stop sign.

The intersection so needs a read traffic light, plus re-alignment so the cross road is angled at 90 degrees!

This is the intersection that McHenry County College did not even consider improving when it proposed its minor league baseball stadium.

As if no one would take Briarwood to Lucus Road to beat the traffic on Route 14.

Fortunately, Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen, who lives nearby, pointed out that omission.

The intersection still needs a traffic signal.

If you have ever tried to pull out on Route 176 from Briarwood across from Sunset Park in Crystal Lake, you know how dangerous the intersection is.

The last time I drove to Woodstock the back way—the way I’ll get to Super Walmart after Crystal Lake, under Mayor Aaron Shepley’s leadership, raises its sales tax 75% on July 1st—I noticed a safety improvement.

There was a blinking red light above the stop sign.

The intersection so needs a read traffic light, plus re-alignment so the cross road is angled at 90 degrees!

This is the intersection that McHenry County College did not even consider improving when it proposed its minor league baseball stadium.

As if no one would take Briarwood to Lucus Road to beat the traffic on Route 14.

Fortunately, Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen, who lives nearby, pointed out that omission.

The intersection still needs a traffic signal.