A press release from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department:
Sheriff’s Office Investigates Fatal Motorcycle Crash
On 08/02/2015, at approximately 11:10 AM, McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a 3 vehicle crash on Northwest Highway (US RT 14) east of Sands Road, in unincorporated Crystal Lake.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a 2009 Yamaha Raider S motorcycle was traveling eastbound on Northwest Highway at approximately 11:10 a.m. Sunday when it entered the westbound lane of travel striking two vehicles:
- a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer and
- a 2014 Ford Fusion
The impact caused the Yamaha to exit the north side of the roadway where it came to a rest in the tall grass.
The driver of the Yamaha, Vincent E Franchi, 50, was not wearing a helmet.
Vincent was transported to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital by Crystal Lake Rescue, where he was pronounced dead.
The driver of the Chevrolet, Daniel R Williams, 45, and his passenger, Lori L Straub, 45, were not injured and were wearing their seatbelts.
The driver of the Ford, Thomas A. Wiley, 44, had minor injuries to his left wrist and was treated and released on scene by Crystal
Lake Rescue. Thomas was wearing his seatbelt and there was airbag deployment in the vehicle.
An investigation is ongoing by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Traffic Crash Investigations Unit.
Members of the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department, Crystal Lake Police Department and the McHenry County Conservation District also assisted at the scene.
It’s very sad to read of such fatalities.
In the past month, I’ve encountered two separate motorcyclists who jeopardized their own safety, as well as myself and others in the car.
First, there was a motorcycle travelling on a side road darkened by shadows of overhanging trees and foliage.
He did NOT have his headlight on, so it was very difficult to see him entering the intersection, where he could have struck a car, been injured if the driver of the car had not exercised caution.
About a month ago, travelling east of Algonquin on Rt. 62, stopping at its intersection with W. County Line Rd.
I was a passenger in a car, waiting in the designated left turn lane, left turn on light only.
There was a motorcycle waiting alongside us on the right, in the through lane for Rt. 62 eastbound traffic beyond this intersection.
Apparently, they realized that they wanted to turn onto County Line Rd. and were in the wrong lane to do so.
They suddenly crossed the restricted white line, cut sharply in front of us, cutting us off.
Had our driver not been very alert, the cyclist and passenger on the back may very well have been killed or injured.
This cutting across the white line occurs frequently on Rt. 31 as you enter Algonquin from the north.
Everyone too much in a hurry and with that me first mentality.
Courtesy and caution are absent from our roads.
Very sad for all families.
Not to mention the guy who cut between lanes on Route 14 from Walgren’s to Fannie May.