Two miniature ponies and multiple chickens died after a fire fully engulfed and destroyed a barn, causing $150,000 in damage, near Wauconda Friday afternoon.

The Wauconda Fire District responded around 2:15 p.m. Friday to the 27000 block of West May Street in unincorporated Wauconda for a report of a structure fire.

Wauconda Fire District Battalion Chief Adam Schlick said fire crews responding spotted a large column of smoke from Route 176.

Firefighters arrived and found heavy flames coming from a barn located approximately 400 feet from the roadway.

The barn was only 15 feet away from a nearby residence, placing it at risk, Schlick said.

Fire crews quickly deployed hose lines and were able to get water on the fire in less than three minutes from arrival.

The fire occurred in an area that does not have fire hydrants and firefighters established a rural water supply using water tenders.

Schlick said a site to dump water was established at the intersection of May Street and Mack Drive to provide the water supply for crews operating at the scene.

A total of 15,000 gallons of water was used to extinguish the fire.

The fire was brought under control in approximately 40 minutes and firefighters prevented the fire from extending to the nearby home.

No firefighters or civilians were injured. Two miniature ponies and multiple chickens were found dead inside the barn and adjacent to it, Schlick said.

The barn was determined to be a total loss with estimated damage of approximately $150,000.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation but investigators do not believe the fire to be suspicious in nature.

The Wauconda Fire District was assisted at the scene by the Lake Zurich, Barrington, Round Lake, Countryside, McHenry Township, Fox Lake, Nunda Rural and Grayslake fire departments.

The Buffalo Grove and Crystal Lake fire departments provided station coverage for the Wauconda Fire District.

An EF-0 tornado briefly touched down and left multiple trees uprooted and several homes damaged in the Saddlebrook Farms subdivision near Grayslake Wednesday evening.

National Weather Service (NWS) Chicago confirmed to Lake & McHenry County Scanner that the tornado, with peak winds of around 80 mph and rated as EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, touched down at around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday for approximately one minute in the Saddlebrook Farms subdivision near Grayslake.

The tornado formed from thunderstorms that began moving into Illinois from Wisconsin in an east-southeast direction at around 8:15 p.m., prompting severe thunderstorm warnings for northern McHenry County.

The storms initially appeared to have weakened as they entered Lake County at around 9:15 p.m.

At around 9:35 p.m., a tornado warning was issued for portions of central Lake County after the tornado had already hit the Saddlebrook Farms subdivision.

Velocity radar showed rotation moving over southern Grayslake and into the Libertyville and Green Oaks areas.

The tornado-capable storms continued moving in an east-southeast direction at around 30-35 mph before entering Lake Michigan at around 9:50 p.m. The tornado warning was then cancelled.

At least six houses along Fox Hunt Way, Preakness Lane, Brookside Court and Saddlebrook Drive at the northeast corner of the subdivision were damaged, a Lake & McHenry County Scanner reporter saw.

Multiple trees were uprooted and fell onto homes, damaging roofs and siding.

Debris, like tree limbs, was left scattered in yards and on the streets.

Some of the damage was already cleaned up on Thursday.

A resident whose house was damaged told Lake & McHenry County Scanner that he heard a loud boom, which sounded like lightning.

“Everything started shaking,” he said. The shaking lasted around 15-20 seconds.

Another resident, whose neighbor’s house was damaged, also described hearing loud noises when the tornado touched down.

Multiple residents on social media said they heard the distinct freight train-like noise of the tornado.

No injuries were reported, and it appeared all houses that were damaged remain habitable.

Portions of Highland Park reportedly lost power, and the storms appeared to cause only minor property damage to other areas of the county as they continued moving eastward from Grayslake.

NWS said that there are no other notable damage reports in Lake County from Wednesday evening.

Five high-value Porsche vehicles were left damaged after a fire broke out inside a three-car garage, causing heavy damage to the structure, in Kildeer, fire officials said.

The Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department responded around 3:50 p.m. Sunday to the 21500 block of West Boschome Drive in Kildeer for a report of a structure fire.

Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department Chief David Pilgard said crews received calls for a garage fire and arrived to find a three-car garage, which was not attached to a home, actively on fire.

The resident discovered the fire and called 911 to report it. All residents were accounted for.

Firefighters established a rural water supply as there are no fire hydrants in the area, Pilgard said.

The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the box alarm level to bring additional resources, including fire department tender trucks, to the scene to assist in extinguishing the fire.

Firefighters deployed 300 feet of large-diameter hose from the roadway down the long driveway.

The fire was quickly brought under control within 5-10 minutes, Pilgard said. Tender trucks dumped water into portable tanks deployed near the scene.

Approximately 10,000 gallons of water were used to extinguish the fire.

There were five high-value vehicles, which appeared to be Porsche cars, inside the car at the time of the fire.

They all sustained heat and smoke damage, Pilgard said. A damage estimate was not released.

The garage sustained heavy damage but it was unclear whether any of the cars would be deemed total losses or not.

Approximately 15 fire departments assisted either at the scene or by covering Lake Zurich fire stations during the incident. The Salvation Army Canteen of Crystal Lake responded to provide refreshments to the firefighters.

An investigation determined the fire appeared to be electrical in nature involving one of the cars, Pilgard said.

The house on the property was not damaged and no injuries were reported.

The fire occurred just down the street from another property where a fire destroyed a garage and damaged the attached house on April 21, injuring a firefighter and prompting a major fire department response.

A wanted suspect was left seriously injured and most lanes on I-94 near Wadsworth remain shut down after he fled from the U.S. Marshals, rolled his car over, stabbed himself and was hit by a semi-truck while fleeing on foot.

The Newport Fire Protection District, Gurnee Fire Department and Illinois State Police responded around 12:15 p.m. Friday to the area of Interstate 94 near mile marker 2 in Wadsworth for a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle.

Newport Fire Protection District Lt. Keenan Stone said fire crews arrived and found a pedestrian who had been struck by a semi-truck.

The U.S. Marshals Service had tried to take the adult male into custody a short time earlier at the Love’s Travel Stop at Frontage Road and Russell Road.

The suspect fled in a car but eventually crashed on eastbound Interstate 94 between the Frontage Road and Route 173.

The car rolled over into the ditch and the man reportedly exited the car and fled on foot from officers, Stone said.

A semi-tractor-trailer truck traveling on eastbound Interstate 94 in the area struck the suspect approximately 100 yards north of where the original crash occurred.

Stone said the suspect also suffered a self-inflicted stab wound, which was believed to be intentional, at some point during the ordeal.

Paramedics transported the seriously injured man to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

The man, who was approximately in his 40s, was conscious and breathing at the scene, Stone said. The crash involving the semi-truck occurred in the far right outside lane.

The Illinois State Police and Illinois Tollway Maintenance shut down the three right lanes on eastbound Interstate 94.

An active investigation is underway and the lanes remained closed as of 3:30 p.m. Friday.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office was called to assist the U.S. Marshals Service after the crash occurred.

The Illinois State Police told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the investigation is in its infancy and there was no further information available.

Prosecutors say the Holiday Hills police chief, who worked as an officer in Prairie Grove, used Flock license plate readers on and off-duty to track people he knew, including the ex-boyfriend of a woman he also dated.

William C. Copp, 54, of Crystal Lake, was charged with two counts of official misconduct, a Class 3 felony.

Prairie Grove Chief of Police Michael Goins said his department began an investigation in November into Copp.

Copp, who was working at the time as a part-time Prairie Grove police officer, was accused of misusing police databases.

Copp is also the Chief of Police for the Village of Holiday Hills.

Goins said the investigation determined that Copp conducted numerous searches unrelated to any official law enforcement investigation.

He is accused of performing the searches for personal purposes, Goins said.

The databases included the Illinois State Police LEADS database and an automated license plate reader system.

LEADS is a statewide electronic system operated by the Illinois State Police, connecting nearly all local police departments and various state agencies.

McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Miller said in court that Copp used the systems to track six people he is connected to personally.

The unauthorized use of the systems occurred while he was on-duty as well as off-duty, Miller said, adding that three of the people were women Copp had been in romantic relationships with.

Miller said one of them was an ex-boyfriend of one of the women and Copp tracked the man 140 times while also calling him and telling him not to communicate with the woman they both knew.

The ex-boyfriend, who is alleged to have been tracked by Copp, filed a petition with the court for a stalking no-contact order in February but McHenry County Judge Jeffrey Hirsch denied the request.

The petition said Copp called the 50-year-old man on his “police phone” on September 1 and left a threatening voicemail telling him to no longer have contact with his ex-girlfriend, who was also Copp’s ex-girlfriend.

Copp allegedly told the man, “This is the only time that I’m going to be nice about this,” and called again on September 22, telling him to leave her alone.

The 50-year-old man said in the petition that the Prairie Grove police chief and a McHenry County investigator reached out to him in January to discuss the situation involving Copp.

The man said in the petition that he thought the phone calls in September was the end of it but was informed by police that Copp had ran his license plate in the LPR system 178 times from September 2025 to January 2026.

“He is stalking my whereabouts through my license plate. I fear for my safety. I fear for my kids safety as they drive my car sometimes when they are home from college. I have never been to McHenry County and he has no reason at all to run my plate at all let alone that many times for personal use and that has me really worried. Those LPRs are near my house as well so he knows everything about me and Im fearful for my safety,” the petitioner said.

Hirsch said he denied the emergency no-contact order because it had “not been shown that the harm sought to be prevented would likely occur if [Copp] were given prior or greater notice of the petitioner’s efforts to obtain judicial relief.”

Goins said Copp has since been terminated from his position as a part-time police officer with the Prairie Grove Police Department.

The case was reviewed by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Prairie Grove Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for Copp on the official misconduct charges.

The department conducted a traffic stop on Copp around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and took him into custody.

“The Village has limited information and was surprised about the charges because they appear to be related to his employment with Prairie Grove and not to his employment with Holiday Hills,” the village attorney for Holiday Hills told Lake and McHenry County Scanner.

She said the village is in the process of gathering information and will consider Copp’s employment status during its next open meeting.

Copp was transported to the McHenry County Jail on the warrant following the traffic stop and turned over to jail staff.

Copp was hired as a police officer with the Holiday Hills Police Department in January 2022 and named chief in January 2025.

Copp appeared for an Initial Appearance Court hearing on Thursday afternoon before McHenry County Judge Michael Feetterer.

The charges are non-detainable under the Illinois SAFE-T Act and Feetterer released Copp from custody following the hearing.

Copp was ordered to have no contact with five of the six people he is accused of tracking.

Copp was also ordered not to go to the Prairie Grove Police Department or Holiday Hills Police Department, except one time each to obtain personal items. He will be required to be accompanied by an active, on-duty officer when he does so.

Feetterer also barred Copp from working as a police officer and from possessing firearms while ordering him to turn over his FOID card following his release.

Copp was additionally ordered to obtain a mental health evaluation and comply with any recommendations.

Copp is scheduled to appear in court again on July 22.

The medical examiner has released the identities of an elderly couple and their son, who all died after officers responding to a well-being check found them in their Buffalo Grove home Tuesday.

The Buffalo Grove Police Department responded around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday to the 200 block of Timber Hill Road in Buffalo Grove for a call of a well-being check.

Officers arrived and found one person dead and two people unresponsive inside the home, officials said.

The Buffalo Grove Fire Department responded and transported two of the people from the home to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.

The two were an elderly married couple in their 80s, police officials said. The third person, who was deceased at the scene, was a man in his 60s.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene and to the hospital to take possession of the three.

The medical examiner’s office identified the couple as Helen Cavins, 88, of Buffalo Grove, and Harold Cavins, 81, of Buffalo Grove.

A preliminary investigation indicates the Cavins’ death was coincidental, police said.

The couple had been in a hospice program and someone from the program called authorities to conduct the check on them.

The medical examiner’s office identified the third person involved as Mark Cavins, 60, of Buffalo Grove.

The investigation is ongoing as final reports are being awaited from the medical examiner. “… we are not investigating this as anything but deaths resulting from natural causes and/or substance abuse,” police said.

The older couple were the parents of the younger man, according to the Buffalo Grove High School Class of 1984 Memorial Scholarship Fund. All three lived together.

“Please keep the family of our classmate, Mark Cavins, in your thoughts and prayers. May he (and his parents) rest easy,” they said.

No foul play is suspected in the deaths, which remain under investigation by the Buffalo Grove Police Department and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Approximately 100 people marched through Mundelein Thursday evening calling for justice and protesting the fatal police-involved shooting of an armed woman experiencing a mental health crisis at a Mundelein home.

Mary Alice Love, 37, of Mundelein, was shot multiple times and killed by Mundelein Police Sergeant Christopher Brigano while police were responding to a report that Love was suicidal at her home in the 1100 block of Ashbrook Drive in Mundelein on May 11.

Love’s mother, Jeffry, called 911 and told dispatchers that her daughter had asked her to call the police so they could kill her, according to video and audio released by the Mundelein Police Department on Monday.

The dispatcher assured the woman that help was on the way as she told him she was worried that officers would kill her granddaughter.

Love’s sister, who was not at the scene, also called 911 and told dispatchers she was concerned that Love was home alone with her sister and that the Lake County Crisis Center had been contacted by the family.

[VIDEO: VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED]

Officers arrived and encountered Love’s mother, Jeffry, at the front door.

Officers were seen attempting to get her to exit away from the home for her safety, but she refused and asked the officers to come inside, the video showed. Love was sitting on the back patio of the house at that time.

Officers walked through the house with Jeffry towards the back patio door, and officers reported Love was armed on the patio with a knife.

Officers tried to get Jeffry, who was standing at the back door next to the officers, away from the door to safety, the video showed.

Two officers attempted to physically guide the mother away from the door, and she appeared to fall over.

Love got up from a chair on the patio and walked toward the rear sliding glass door while holding the knives.

Love began yelling at the officers and opened the door before Brigano fired four times at her, causing her to fall and drop the knives on the back patio.

Officers immediately summoned firefighter/paramedics, who were already staging nearby until the scene was deemed safe.

Love was rushed to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where she was pronounced dead.

Around 80-100 people, including family members and relatives of Love, began a scheduled protest shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday in front of the Mundelein Village Hall, 300 Plaza Circle.

Several speakers spent around an hour addressing the crowd, calling for transparency and accountability.

A significant portion of the protesters made signs like “Help before harm,” “Her life mattered,” “Mental healthcare not bullets,” “Justice 4 Mary Alice,” and “Crisis does not equal threat.”

“What we asked for was nine demands from the police department and the mayor,” Attorney Kevin W. O’Connor of the O’Connor Law Firm, who is representing the Love family, told the crowd.

The nine demands included immediately terminating Brigano, suspending two other officers, immediately releasing all body-worn camera footage and dispatch recordings, having the Illinois State Police and U.S. Department of Justice conduct an independent investigation, retracting and correcting alleged false statements, publicly apologizing to Love’s family, identifying all officers involved and holding a community accountability meeting.

“Everyone thinks, ‘well, they met your demands, they released a video, they released some 911 tapes,’ but what we got was what looked like a video presentation out of something like a movie,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor said that the Mundelein Police Department did not release all of the body-worn camera video and 911 call audio, and instead released an edited nine-minute version that omitted parts of the video and audio and was narrated by Mundelein Police Chief Jason Seeley.

“They turned over what they thought was their best foot forward. Well, that best foot forward failed miserably,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor added that Sergeant Brigano, an 18-year veteran of the Mundelein Police Department, “failed on pretty much every level” despite being trained in crisis intervention training (CIT).

“It was a series of tactical errors from the start,” O’Connor said, adding that police improperly addressed the situation and instead escalated it.

O’Connor said Love got up from the chair and was asking the police what they were doing to her mother when she was shot.

O’Connor added that officers failed to establish verbal communication with Love and did give her an opportunity to comply.

“And what could they have done? Back up. Back up and wait for the crisis intervention people to come,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor also said that police tried to blame Jeffry for the incident “to throw salt on the wound.”

“This man [Brigano] should be fired, there is no question. He should be fired.”

“If this is your leader, if this is your sergeant training these other officers, get that poison out of that department. He’s only going to teach them bad things.”

O’Connor further criticized officers’ handling of the incident immediately following the shooting, including where an officer allegedly refused to let a family member ride in the ambulance with Jeffry and an officer who allegedly locked down Advocate Condell Medical Center and refused to let the family see and comfort the mother.

“They’re trying to find an excuse for their conduct that they couldn’t find,” O’Connor said.

Jeffry was seen crying during the speeches.

Johnny Love, the father of Alice Love, also called for accountability and consequences against Brigano.

Other speakers included religious and community activists like Ralph Peterson Jr., Pastor Eugene Roberson, Christopher “Brotha” Blanks, Kimberly Handy Jones, Bishop Tavis L. Grant II and Reverend Wallace “Gator” Bradley.

The niece of Mundelein Mayor Robin Meier also unexpectedly addressed the crowd and Love’s family, after O’Connor criticized the fact that Police Chief Seeley and Meier were not directly present at the protest.

The niece apologized to Love’s family for Meier’s absence.

“This is not okay, and I’m sorry that my aunt isn’t here,” she said.

“I never thought that my family would be somebody that wouldn’t show up to something like this, and I’m so sad and I’m so, so, so sorry. I watched the video, and I feel responsible because she’s not here and she should be, she should be here. It’s not okay,” the niece said while crying.

At 6:30 p.m., the crowd began marching to the Mundelein Police Department.

Officers provided temporary traffic control as the crowd marched through East Hammond Street, North Seymour Avenue, East Division Street and Route 45 before ending at the internet exchange parking lot on the north side of the police station.

The crowd held a prayer before the protest ended at around 7 p.m.

Police monitored the protest and the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) Mobile Field Force was on standby at the Mundelein Public Works Department at 801 Allanson Road.

NIPAS Mobile Field Force is a specialized crowd control team consisting of police departments throughout the region.

The protest remained peaceful, and there were no incidents reported.

Lake & McHenry County Scanner conducted an interview with O’Connor after the protest ended.

O’Connor said police are not releasing key details leading up to and during the incident, like the family calling for Lake County Health Department crisis counselors and other angles and parts of officers’ body-worn camera footage.

“We appeared in front of the city council last Monday. We asked them, we started making demands, talking with them. Not one member of the council, the police chief was there, not one spoke to say one word related to this case when they had the opportunity to address the family and address some people from the community,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor was also skeptical about whether the Lake County Major Crime Task Force would conduct a thorough and fully transparent investigation.

“I’ve been doing civil rights cases in Lake County for now over 16 years. The Lake County [Major Crime] Task Force has never found anything wrong with the officer in any of my cases, yet there were multiple millions of dollars of settlements and judgments that have occurred.”

“These groups of people are made up of people from these towns that all know them,” O’Connor said, citing the task force’s handling of the 2015 suicide of Fox Lake Police Lieutenant Joseph Gliniewicz.

The family will continue to appear at the village’s bi-weekly board of trustees meetings, including on Monday evening, where the family will distribute blue ribbons to the community in remembrance of Love.

Police Chief Seeley was seen exiting the village hall at around 7:30 p.m. and quickly entering the passenger seat of a police squad car before being driven away.

Seeley declined to comment on the protest.

The shooting remains under investigation by the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.

An intoxicated driver was left seriously injured and had to be extricated from his car and flown to the hospital after he rolled it over near McHenry, authorities said.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and McHenry Township Fire Protection District responded around 2 a.m. on June 5 to the area of Route 31 and Johnsburg Road in unincorporated McHenry for a report of a crash with entrapment.

McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Katie Wendt said Thursday that deputies arrived and located the crash north of the intersection on Route 31 near Beck Road.

A 2021 Toyota Camry was found rolled over on its roof in a farm field northeast of the intersection.

Fire crews reported the vehicle was 30 yards off the roadway.

The vehicle was occupied by a 23-year-old Wonder Lake man, Wendt said. No other occupants were reported to be inside.

Firefighters worked for approximately 10 minutes to free the man, who was trapped inside the wreckage.

Wendt said the man suffered suspected serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital.

The ambulance crew met a LifeNet medical helicopter at its base at the hospital and transferred the victim to the helicopter.

The helicopter flew the man to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, which is a Level 1 trauma center.

Wendt said the driver was under the influence of alcohol. His vehicle was also uninsured.

The man was issued four citations for driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or more, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and improper lane usage.

A 74-year-old man who is a registered sexual predator and attends public sessions at an ice rink in Crystal Lake was arrested after he allegedly met a child at the rink and began communicating with him.

John Kaspari, 74, of Johnsburg, was charged with one count of communicating with a child by a registered sexual offender, a Class 4 felony.

The Crystal Lake Police Department began an investigation after receiving complaints of inappropriate behavior by a man who attends open ice periods at Crystal Lake Ice House, 320 Prairie Street in Crystal Lake.

The man, later identified as Kaspari, had met and interacted with a child at the ice rink, prosecutors said.

Investigators learned Kaspari had obtained the boy’s phone number and began texting the child directly from June 5 to June 12, prosecutors said.

Kaspari is a registered sex offender and is barred from communicating with any juvenile without lawful justification.

He was previously convicted of possession of child pornography in 2021 in Cook County.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office said at the time of his arrest that Kaspari, who was living in Des Plaines, arranged to meet with a person whom he thought was a 13-year-old boy.

Kaspari was communicating with a teenager and sending inappropriate messages to him, the sheriff’s office said.

Sheriff’s officials said a sheriff investigator took over conversations with Kaspari, who sent sexually explicit messages, suggested the two meet and agreed not to tell the boy’s mother.

Kaspari was taken into custody after meeting up in Franklin Park on April 13, 2021, when he arrived at the arranged location. Officers recovered multiple images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material on his phone.

After Kaspari’s latest arrest in Crystal Lake, he was transported to the McHenry County Jail and appeared for an Initial Appearance Court hearing on Thursday afternoon.

Prosecutors argued that Kaspari poses a real and present threat to children and that no conditions of release could mitigate it.

Prosecutors said in court that Kaspari admitted it was foolish of him to speak to the child, who was under the age of 13, from the ice rink.

McHenry County Judge Michael Feetterer granted a petition to detain filed by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office during the hearing.

“This is a active pedophile who is attempting to make a connection with a child for the purposes of grooming them and for the purposes of sexual exploitation in the long run,” the prosecutor told the judge.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said she commends the Crystal Lake Police Department for its “swift investigation and ongoing commitment to protecting children.”

“Protecting children from predators who seek to exploit or prey upon them remains one of our highest priorities,” Freese said.

“The Court’s decision to detain this defendant reflects the serious nature of these allegations and our persistent commitment to keeping our community safe,” she added.

Kaspari is scheduled to appear in court again on June 23.

The coroner has released the identity of a 15-year-old girl, who was a Mundelein High School student, who died after being struck by a train in Mundelein as the school offers support to her fellow classmates.

An autopsy performed Monday showed that Sylvia Bond, 15, of Mundelein, died as a result of blunt force injuries, according to Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton.

The Mundelein Police Department and Mundelein Fire Department responded around 2:20 p.m. Saturday to the area of 209 East Park Street in Mundelein for a report of a train-involved crash.

Emergency crews arrived and found a pedestrian, later identified as Bond, who had been struck by a train, according to emergency radio traffic.

Bond was pinned underneath the train when responders arrived and was unconscious and not breathing.

Mundelein Police Department Commander Rick Wilfenger said Bond was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bond was a student at Mundelein High School and the school said in a letter to families that it was “with profound sadness” to share the news of her death.

“Our thoughts are with family, friends, classmates, and all those who are grieving this loss. The death of a young person can affect individuals in many different ways. Some students may experience sadness, confusion, anger, or other strong emotions, while others may not show an immediate reaction,” school officials said.

The letter said the school encourages families to check in with their children and provide opportunities for them to talk about their feelings and concerns.

Members of the Mundelein High School Student Services Team were available this week to provide support to students.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office was notified and responded to take possession of the girl for an autopsy.

Wilfenger said the victim was struck by a southbound Canadian National freight train.

The incident happened on the Canadian National Railway along Metra’s North Central Service (NCS) line.

The NCS line does not operate on the weekend.

The Canadian National Police Service responded to the scene to investigate with the Mundelein Police Department.

Police said numerous crossings in town were blocked and unavailable to traffic due to the incident.

Those included the crossings at Route 176, Park Street, Morris Avenue and Hawley Street.

“Motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternate routes until further notice. Please allow for additional travel time and follow all posted detours and directions from emergency personnel,” the police department said.

“We appreciate your patience and cooperation as officers work to safely manage the situation. Updates will be provided as they become available,” the department added.

Wilfenger said the railroad crossing signals were all working properly in the area of the collision.

There were no known witnesses except for the train’s engineer, Wilfenger said, adding that he could not comment yet whether it was believed to have been an accident or not.

Newton said Bond’s manner of death has not been determined by the coroner’s office yet.

School officials say Bond’s family has requested privacy to grieve.

“As a community, we will continue to support one another and share information regarding services or memorial arrangements as it becomes available, in consultation with the family,” the school said in the letter.

The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation by the Mundelein Police Department and the Canadian National Police Service.

The coroner says an autopsy showed a 7-year-old boy likely drowned after he went missing before being found unresponsive in a pond in Lake in the Hills Wednesday evening.

The Lake in the Hills Police Department responded just before 6 p.m. Wednesday to a residence on Steeplechase Way in Lake in the Hills for a missing person.

Police officials said a 7-year-old child had gone missing and was last seen by family members a short time earlier.

A search effort began and an officer spotted the child in a nearby retention pond.

The Huntley Fire Protection District responded to the scene with a water rescue response to the area of Warwick Lane and Steeplechase Way.

The officer rescued the child from the water before fire crews arrived, police officials said.

The child was unresponsive and officers began lifesaving efforts on the victim.

Paramedics arrived minutes later and continued lifesaving measures before rushing the child to the hospital.

Police said the child was pronounced dead at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital shortly after arriving.

The McHenry County Coroner’s Office responded to the hospital to take possession of the boy for an autopsy.

McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein said Thursday that an autopsy was performed and the preliminary findings show drowning as the cause of death. Toxicology testing is pending.

The juvenile’s identity has not been released yet.

Police officials said no foul play is suspected but the incident remains under investigation by the Lake in the Hills Police Department and McHenry County Coroner’s Office.

The Holiday Hills police chief, who also worked as an officer for Prairie Grove, was arrested for allegedly using law enforcement databases, including license plate reader data, for personal use.

William C. Copp, 54, of Crystal Lake, was charged with two counts of official misconduct, a Class 3 felony.

Prairie Grove Chief of Police Michael Goins said his department began an investigation in November into Copp.

Copp, who was working at the time as a part-time Prairie Grove police officer, was accused of misusing police databases.

Copp is also the Chief of Police for the Village of Holiday Hills.

Goins said the investigation determined that Copp conducted numerous searches unrelated to any official law enforcement investigation.

He is accused of performing the searches for personal purposes, Goins said.

The databases included the Illinois State Police LEADS database and an automated license plate reader system.

LEADS is a statewide electronic system operated by the Illinois State Police, connecting nearly all local police departments and various state agencies.

Goins said Copp has since been terminated from his position as a part-time police officer with the Prairie Grove Police Department.

The case was reviewed by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Prairie Grove Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for Copp on the official misconduct charges.

The department conducted a traffic stop on Copp around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and took him into custody.

He was transported to the McHenry County Jail on the warrant and turned over to jail staff.

Copp was hired as a police officer with the Holiday Hills Police Department in January 2022 and named chief in January 2025.

Copp is expected to appear for an Initial Appearance Court hearing on Thursday afternoon.

A 7-year-old child has died after going missing and then being found unresponsive in a neighborhood pond in Lake in the Hills Wednesday evening, police said.

The Lake in the Hills Police Department responded just before 6 p.m. Wednesday to a residence on Steeplechase Way in Lake in the Hills for a missing person.

Police officials said a 7-year-old child had gone missing and was last seen by family members a short time earlier.

A search effort began and an officer spotted the child in a nearby retention pond.

The Huntley Fire Protection District responded to the scene with a water rescue response to the area of Warwick Lane and Steeplechase Way.

The officer rescued the child from the water before fire crews arrived, police officials said.

The child was unresponsive and officers began lifesaving efforts on the victim.

Paramedics arrived minutes later and continued lifesaving measures before rushing the child to the hospital.

Police said the child was pronounced dead at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital after arriving.

The McHenry County Coroner’s Office responded to the hospital to take possession of the child for an autopsy.

The juvenile’s identity has not been released and no cause or manner of death has been ruled.

Police officials said no foul play is suspected but the incident remains under investigation by the Lake in the Hills Police Department and McHenry County Coroner’s Office.

The Secretary of State has ended mandatory driving tests for drivers as old as 86 in Illinois, saying it removes an “unnecessary burden” on them and is part of the “Safety and Fairness Act.”

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced on Wednesday that his Road Safety & Fairness Act will go into effect next month with the elimination of Illinois’ mandatory behind-the-wheel driving tests for drivers ages 79 to 86.

The new law, which goes into effect on July 1, raises the age at which Illinois drivers must take a driving test from 79 to 87.

Giannoulias says it removes an outdated age-based requirement that made Illinois the only state in the nation to require a behind-the-wheel test solely because of a driver’s age.

The new law shifts the focus to a person’s ability to drive safely rather than the date on their birth certificate, Giannoulias said.

“The Road Safety & Fairness Act is about replacing outdated assumptions with facts,” Giannoulias said.

“Illinois seniors have consistently proven they are among the safest drivers on our roads. This law removes an unnecessary burden for older drivers while preserving strong safeguards to protect everyone who travels on our streets,” he added.

Under the act, drivers ages 79 through 86 will still be required to renew their licenses in person at a DMV and pass a vision screening but will no longer be required to take a behind-the-wheel driving test because of their age.

Those aged 79-80 will renew every four years in person with a vision test and those aged 81-86 will renew every two years in person with a vision test.

Those aged 87 and older will continue annual in-person renewal with a vision test and behind-the-wheel driving test.

There are approximately 350,000 Illinois drivers between the ages of 79 and 86 and approximately 55,000 of those take a driving test annually.

The Secretary of State’s office has sent letters regarding the change to those Illinois drivers whose licenses are up for renewal.

The law does not change requirements for commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders, who must continue taking a behind-the-wheel driving test beginning at age 75 and at each renewal.

The law will allow immediate family members to report legitimate concerns when a loved one’s medical condition, vision impairment or driving behavior may affect their ability to drive safely.

Any report will be independently reviewed by the Secretary of State’s office and a driver’s license is not automatically affected simply because a report is submitted.

Illinois has been the only state in the nation that required senior drivers to have their behind-the-wheel skills tested on a regular basis.

The last two states that mandated driving tests for seniors were New Hampshire and Indiana. New Hampshire ended the requirement in 2011 and Indiana did so in 2005.

Giannoulias said the changes are supported by extensive safety data.

The Illinois Department of Transportation reported that drivers age 75 and older had a crash rate of 25.54 per 1,000 licensed drivers in 2024, which is lower than every age group between 16 and 74.

The legislation builds on a temporary policy implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic that raised the mandatory road test age from 75 to 79.

Giannoulias said that the change was made permanent in 2024 after an office-commissioned study found no significant increase in crashes among affected age groups.

Police have announced charges against a second of six masked suspects who allegedly ransacked a boutique retailer in Barrington, stealing over $100,000 worth of merchandise in December.

The Barrington Police Department responded around 5 a.m. on December 28 to ReStyle Designers of Barrington, 121 South Cook Street, following reports of a disturbance.

Barrington Police Chief David Daigle said a resident living above the business called 911 after hearing multiple males yelling loudly outside and witnessing two vehicles speeding away from the scene.

Officers discovered that the front door of ReStyle Designers had been forced open.

The business owner, who was notified of the incident, responded to the scene and provided officers with surveillance footage that captured a burglary, Daigle said.

ReStyle Designers of Barrington said nearly all of the store’s inventory was stolen, leading to years of hard work and trust “gone in seconds.”

“We are devastated, but we are not giving up. This store has always been about community, and our clients and consignors are more than customers, you are our family,” the store owners said.

“We are grateful to the Barrington Police Department for their prompt response and ongoing assistance,” the store said.

The police department announced the arrest of Jeremiah K. Brown, 21, last month and said he was charged with burglary, a Class 2 felony, following an investigation.

The department announced the arrest of a second suspect, Cortney J. Shivers, 32, of Chicago, on Wednesday. He was also charged with burglary, a Class 2 felony.

Detectives determined Shivers had been at the business the day prior conducting surveillance of the location, according to cellular technology and investigative analysis.

Shivers returned to the business with the other suspects to commit the burglary.

Detectives identified Brown as being involved in a separate upscale burglary that occurred in Hinsdale in January, police officials said.

Investigators used Flock cameras in Barrington to help identify and track the vehicle used during the burglary.

Detectives also employed “advanced investigative and technological techniques” that helped build a strong case against Brown, police officials said.

Surveillance video captured the entire heist, which occurred when the store was closed and led to $106,760 worth of merchandise being stolen.

Six suspects, wearing all black with masks and gloves, forced entry to the front door of the business.

Alarms could be heard activating in the video as the suspects quickly ransacked the shelves and display cases of products.

The suspects shoveled products into garbage bags and fled the ReStyle Designers of Barrington — all in just one minute.

The store owners said approximately 85% of their inventory was stolen. “Our hearts are broken.”

The business said they have significantly ramped up security following the break-in and were taking every step possible to protect their team, the store and customers.

ReStyle Designers of Barrington is described as a quaint resale boutique with vintage and modern designer apparel, shoes and accessories.

Their social media advertises designer brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Chanel.

Shivers was taken into custody at the DuPage County Courthouse on Wednesday while attending a court hearing for a similar offense in another jurisdiction.

Shivers and Brown were both released from custody under the Illinois SAFE-T Act after being processed at the police station following their arrests.

Daigle said detectives are continuing to investigate the case and the other offenders are likely to be charged.

Anyone with information regarding the burglary or the suspects involved is asked to contact Detective Gruenthal at 847-304-3334.

Approximately 75 people protested outside a hotel in Lincolnshire where Turning Point USA was holding its annual Educators’ Summit as protesters said the organization was promoting its “anti-education, anti-science philosophy.”

The Village of Lincolnshire said they are coordinating with regional public safety personnel as well as its partners at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort to ensure a safe environment for residents, visitors and businesses amid an event by Turning Point USA at the resort.

The privately-organized event began on Tuesday and will run through Friday.

A peaceful demonstration publicly promoted as the “Turning Point Honk and Wave Protest” took place at the corner of Half Day Road and Milwaukee Avenue on Tuesday evening.

Northeast Lake County Indivisible, which organized the event, said they were demanding “Hands Off Our Schools!” as they protested from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday against Turning Point USA.

TPUSA is holding its fifth annual “Educators’ Summit” at the resort, according to its website.

Northeast Lake County Indivisible, which says they are part of the national effort behind the “No Kings” protests, called TPUSA’s Educators’ Summit a “white Christian nationalist effort to infiltrate public education in Illinois.”

“It’s important to understand that TPUSA was started and financed by dark money from wealthy conservative think-tanks and their donors. They want to use our public school to promote their anti-education, anti-science, anti-free thinking philosophy,” said Sheila Leahy, a leader with Northeast Lake County Indivisible.

“Along with many partner organizations, we have planned a peaceful way for like minded people to come together and demonstrate that Lake County rejects TurningPoint USA,” Leahy said.

“TPUSA wants teachers to keep the full facts of America’s history regarding racism, bigotry, and sexism out of our classrooms. We don’t want their controlling ideas about public education anywhere near our children and our schools,” says Katie Salyer, a mother of two school-aged children and a leader with Northeast Lake County Indivisible.

Village officials say the event remained peaceful with no reported incidents or arrests. Organizers say approximately 75 people attended the protest.

The village said they anticipate increased traffic volumes on Milwaukee Avenue and Half Day Road during peak arrival times for the summit. No road closures are anticipated.

“However, motorists may experience periodic delays entering and exiting Marriott Drive. The Village encourages drivers to allow extra travel time or consider alternate routes,” they said.

The village said it is not aware of any specific or credible threats related to the event and the Lincolnshire Police Department is working with resort staff to monitor attendance levels, parking impacts and any planned demonstrations.

“The department has coordinated with regional law enforcement partners to plan for the event and demonstration activity. Partner agencies are providing additional staffing to support traffic control, safety monitoring, and emergency response capabilities,” village officials said.

The Village of Lincolnshire said that peaceful demonstrations are a “valued part of civic participation” and acts of violence, vandalism, intimidation, trespassing or interference with public safety operations will not be tolerated.

Police are investigating after two people were found dead inside a home and a third person died in the hospital following a well-being check in Buffalo Grove Tuesday morning.

The Buffalo Grove Police Department responded around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday to the 200 block of Timber Hill Road in Buffalo Grove for a call of a well-being check.

Officers arrived and found two people deceased inside the home, police officials said.

The Buffalo Grove Fire Department responded and transported a third person from the home to a local hospital.

The two deceased in the home were an elderly married couple in their 80s, police officials said. The third person was a man in his 60s.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene and to the hospital to take possession of the three.

A preliminary investigation indicates the couple’s death was coincidental, police said.

The couple, who lived in the home, had been in a hospice program and someone from the program called authorities to conduct the check on them.

The investigation is ongoing as final reports are being awaited from the medical examiner. “… we are not investigating this as anything but deaths resulting from natural causes and/or substance abuse,” police said.

No foul play is suspected in the deaths, which remain under investigation by the Buffalo Grove Police Department.

A woman was seriously injured and two others were also hospitalized after an ice cream truck and an SUV crashed into each other, causing the ice cream truck to roll over near McHenry.

The McHenry Township Fire Protection District responded around 2:11 p.m. Friday to the intersection of Miller Road and Spring Grove Road in unincorporated McHenry for a report of a vehicle crash with entrapment.

Fire crews arrived and found heavy damage with two vehicles involved, according to McHenry Township Fire Protection District Battalion Chief David Harwood.

Harwood said the crash involved an ice cream truck and a passenger car.

Both vehicles came to rest off the roadway and the ice cream truck rolled over onto its side.

Harwood said the ice cream truck was operated by an adult male driver with no passengers.

The other vehicle, a dark-colored SUV, was occupied by an adult female driver and an adult male passenger.

Three ambulances responded to the scene. A medical helicopter was initially placed on standby but canceled.

All three occupants were out of the vehicles when the fire department arrived despite the initial report of entrapment, Harwood said.

Paramedics transported the three occupants to the hospital.

Harwood said the driver of the SUV suffered serious injuries and the others suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The intersection, which features a two-way stop, was shut down for approximately 30 minutes.

Tow trucks were called to the scene to remove both vehicles following the T-bone collision.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.

Animals were uninjured, including a pig that tried running away and had to be tackled, after a gas-fueled fire caused significant damage to the outside of a home in Round Lake Beach.

The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded around 12:26 p.m. Saturday to the 1600 block of North Ridgeway Avenue in Round Lake Beach for a report of a structure fire.

Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Tony Carraro said crews arrived to find a heavy volume of fire coming from the exterior of a single-family house.

The fire was extinguished in 10-15 minutes and did not extend beyond the original section of the wall.

The natural gas service to the home could not be shut off, complicating the extinguishment efforts, due to the gas meter being damaged by the fire, Carraro said.

Firefighters worked to remove smoke and limit water damage through ventilation and salvage operations.

The interior of the home sustained light smoke and water damage.

Carraro said firefighters were able to limit the spread of gas on the exterior and interior of the home until Nicor Gas arrived.

Fire crews remained on the scene for an additional hour checking for hot spots and performing overhaul and property salvage.

The home was occupied at the time of the fire, Carraro said. The resident, a dog and a pig escaped the home without injury.

The pig, named Charlotte, tried running away from the home but she was tackled by her owner.

There were no injuries to residents or firefighters during the fire.

The Grayslake, Fox Lake, Wauconda, Antioch and Spring Grove fire departments assisted at the scene.

The Lake Villa, Gurnee and McHenry fire departments assisted with other incidents in the Round Lake area during the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District.

Police say they have cited a Round Lake Beach man, who reported he suffered a medical emergency, when he ran a stop sign and crashed into a fire station in Round Lake Monday morning.

The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District said it responded to an “unusual incident” at Fire Station 1, located at 409 West Nippersink Road in Round Lake.

An orange KIA SUV left the roadway and struck decorative planters in front of the fire station.

The car continued traveling and collided into the front of the fire station.

The incident happened just before 6:30 a.m. Monday.

Fire officials said it was fortunate that no firefighters or civilians were injured in the collision.

The building sustained minor damage and station operations remain unaffected.

“Please remember to drive safely and stay alert while traveling through our communities. Thankfully no injuries were reported, and Station 1 remains fully operational,” the fire district said.

Round Lake Police Chief Dave Prus said it appears that the driver suffered a medical emergency, leading to the crash.

The Round Lake Beach man, who is in his 40s, was operating his car southbound on Cedar Lake Road from Route 134.

The driver disregarded the stop sign at Nippersink Road and Cedar Lake Road, drove off the road and hit t

Organizers for Harvard Milk Days said they “do not condone” profane apparel at its family-friendly event after the former owner of a controversial Lake in the Hills bakery, who is a township trustee, wore an anti-ICE shirt to the annual event.

The board of directors for Harvard Milk Days said their 85th annual event held earlier this month was a “tremendous success.”

The celebration has brought together generations of families, volunteers, businesses, organizations and visitors to honor the “heritage, traditions and community spirit that make Harvard such a special place.”

“We are incredibly proud of what Milk Days represents and the thousands of people who continue to support and preserve this longstanding tradition,” the board said in a statement.

The statement said organizers became aware of concerns and online comments regarding apparel worn by individuals associated with one of the parade entrants.

“We want to be clear that Harvard Milk Days does not condone profanity or explicit language at any of our family-friendly events. We never have, and we never will!” the board said.

Harvard Milk Days organizers say they were not aware of the shirts in question prior to or during the parade. “Had the issue been brought to our attention at the time, it would have been addressed.”

“While we believed it was generally understood that inappropriate language and imagery have no place in a family-oriented community event, we recognize the importance of clearly stating expectations,” the statement said.

Grafton Township Board Trustee Corinna Sac was spotted wearing a shirt that said “Sugar and spice. F— ICE.”

Sac was the founder of UpRising Bakery in Lake in the Hills, an “inclusive” bakery which shut down in May 2023.

“Closing our doors is the direct result of the horrific attacks, endless harassment, and unrelenting negative misinformation about our establishment in the last eight months,” Sac said in 2023.

Sac said her business, once known as “an award-winning bakery that donates to local organizations and supports diversity and inclusion,” had been rebranded by misinformation as “gay only” and “pedophiles.”

Sac said local customers no longer patronized her business because of the “perceived threat” that tarnished the name.

UpRising Bakery and Cafe announced in July 2022 that it was planning on hosting a family-friendly drag show, which led to in-person and online threats.

UpRising Bakery sustained significant damage early in the morning on July 23, 2022, which was the day of the scheduled drag show. The vandalism forced the business to cancel the event that day.

Protesters and counter-protesters gathered at the business following the hate crime and drag show, causing the Lake in the Hills police to stand by at the business.

“A campaign was initiated to discredit, damage and defame Ms. Sac, her staff, her food, and her patrons. Protesters spent more than 120 consecutive days on the property, creating disturbances, inciting violence, photographing license plates of patrons, and harassing them on social media and online,” the business said.

After the shirt incident earlier this month, Harvard Milk Days said the event’s parade application and participation guidelines will be updated moving forward to prohibit apparel, signage or displays containing profanity or other inappropriate content.

“We appreciate the feedback we have received and remain committed to ensuring that Harvard Milk Days continues to be an event that families can enjoy for generations to come. Thank you to everyone who attended. volunteered, sponsored, participated in, and supported this year’s celebration,” the board said in the statement.

The board of directors says they are already planning the 86th Annual event. “We look forward to building on this year’s success and making next year’s celebration even bigger, better, and more memorable for our entire community.”

The Round Lake Police Department introduced its newest four-legged officer, a one-year-old German Shepherd, which they say will help enhance their ability to protect residents.

The Round Lake Police Department on Tuesday introduced the canine, named Valor, a one-year-old German Shepherd who has officially joined the department’s patrol section.

He is assigned to Round Lake Police Officer Nelson Rodriguez.

Rodriguez and Valor earned their official certification after completing hundreds of hours of rigorous training and are now serving the Round Lake community, according to Round Lake Police Chief Dave Prus.

The team has received specialized training in patrol operations, narcotics detection, tracking missing persons and suspects, article searches and a variety of other critical law enforcement functions.

Their extensive initial certification program included eight weeks of classroom instruction and hands-on practical training, Prus said.

The curriculum covered deployment standards, canine behavior, legal updates, real-world scenarios, problem-solving techniques and field applications designed to prepare the team for the challenges they may encounter while serving the community.

Prus said the addition of Valor strengthens the department’s mission to public safety and enhances its ability to protect and serve the residents of Round Lake.

“Police canines are invaluable partners, providing specialized skills that help locate missing individuals, apprehend suspects, detect illegal narcotics, and support officers in a wide range of situations,” Prus said.

“Please join us in welcoming Valor to the Village of Round Lake Police Department and congratulating Officer Rodriguez and his K-9 partner on this significant accomplishment. We look forward to the positive impact this dedicated team will have as they begin serving and safeguarding our community,” the police chief said.

The new canine was officially sworn in at the Round Lake Village Board meeting on Monday evening.

Police say they have arrested a male nurse accused of sexually assaulting a female resident while working at an assisted rehabilitation facility in Barrington.

The Barrington Police Department announced Tuesday that they had arrested Olufemi I. Olaifa, 40, of Schaumburg.

The police department received a report on February 22 of a sexual assault at Alden Estates of Barrington, located at 1420 South Barrington Road, according to Barrington Chief of Police David Daigle.

The report involved a 30-year-old female resident of the facility being the victim.

Detectives immediately initiated an investigation and learned that the victim was sexually assaulted by a male nurse who was employed at the facility, Daigle said.

DNA evidence was collected from the victim and submitted to the crime lab for forensic analysis.

Daigle said the results confirmed a DNA match to the suspect, identified as Olaifa.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the investigation and approved one count of criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony, against Olaifa.

Alden Estates of Barrington fully cooperated in the investigation, Daigle said.

Olaifa was taken into custody and is set to appear for a detention hearing at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse on Wednesday.

Alden Estates of Barrington offers short-term rehabilitation, transitional care and post-acute services, including for those who need therapy after surgery or a hospital stay, according to the company’s website.

It is unclear whether Olaifa has been terminated from his employment yet. The company has not released a public statement.

Police say cars crashed into two business storefronts and a house in three separate incidents that occurred in Waukegan just days apart, with no injuries luckily reported in any of them.

The Waukegan Police Department responded around 9:05 p.m. on June 3 to the 400 block of South Green Bay Road in Waukegan for a report of a vehicle crash.

Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Craig Neal said officers arrived and located a white 2022 Ford Mustang that crashed into the front of Lucky Jack’s, 410 South Green Bay Road.

The Ford was being driven by a subject who was identified as a 28-year-old Waukegan man.

The man told officers he was traveling southbound on Green Bay Road when he attempted to change from the center to the curb lane.

He said that the vehicle continued to veer to the right and the brakes failed, causing him to drive off the road.

The Ford struck a utility pole, a large boulder, a parked vehicle and came to rest against the building at 410 South Green Bay Road.

The Ford sustained heavy front-end damage in the crash. The driver did not report any injuries.

A witness told officers they observed the Ford prior to the crash.

The witness said the Ford was switching from the center to the curb lane and continued to travel off the roadway before crashing into the building.

The witness did not believe the driver of the Ford was speeding prior to the crash.

The driver was issued citations for improper lane use and driving too fast for conditions.

The Waukegan Police Department responded around 5:56 a.m. on June 8 to the 3300 block of North Lewis Avenue in Waukegan for a vehicle crash involving a building.

Officers arrived and found a blue 2004 GMC Envoy that had crashed into 7 Star Food & Liquor, 3301 North Lewis Avenue.

The driver of the GMC was identified as a 37-year-old Winthrop Harbor woman.

She told officers that she was traveling northbound on Lewis Avenue when she hydroplaned while driving.

The woman lost control of the vehicle and drove off the roadway before striking the building.

The driver did not require medical attention at the scene and no citations were issued.

The Waukegan Police Department and Waukegan Fire Department responded around 8:30 p.m. on June 8 to the area of Sheridan Road and Ridgeland Avenue in Waukegan for a crash involving a building.

Waukegan Sixth Ward Alderman Keith Turner said he was at the scene and a vehicle crashed into the corner of a house on the southwest corner of the intersection.

No injuries were reported but there was severe structural damage to the home, Turner said.

Turner said no alcohol or drugs were involved and the driver was released after being cited.

A Lindenhurst man has been charged with reckless homicide for allegedly causing a head-on crash that left a 28-year-old Round Lake Beach woman dead and seriously injured others in Hawthorn Woods.

The Hawthorn Woods Police Department and Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department responded around 4:37 p.m. on August 9, 2025, to Fairfield Road and Holmes Avenue in Hawthorn Woods.

Officers arrived and found a serious injury head-on crash involving two vehicles 500 feet southeast of the intersection, according to Hawthorn Woods Deputy Police Chief Sarah Canada.

The incident was upgraded to a box alarm through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) for numerous fire departments and ambulances to respond to the scene due to the number of people injured.

An investigation showed that a 2014 Honda CR-V, driven by Eric Fiador, 37, of Lindenhurst, was traveling southbound on Fairfield Road.

Fiador’s Honda crossed the double yellow line and struck a 2007 Honda Accord, which was traveling northbound on Fairfield Road, Canada said.

The two cars collided and the crash resulted in severe damage to the vehicles’ front ends.

Fiador was transported to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington with life-threatening injuries and was in critical condition.

The 27-year-old male driver of the Honda Accord was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center with serious injuries.

Canada said a 29-year-old female passenger from the Honda Accord was transported to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge with life-threatening injuries and is in critical condition.

AnnMarie Macias-Lauritzen, 28, of Round Lake Beach, who was a passenger in the Honda Accord, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and took possession of Macias-Lauritzen for an autopsy.

The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was called to the scene to conduct a crash investigation and reconstruction.

Fairfield Road was completely shut down for approximately four hours on the day of the crash.

Court documents said Fiador was acting in a reckless manner when he operated his vehicle while traveling at speeds in excess of the speed and left his lane of travel, causing the head-on crash.

Fiador survived the incident and was later released from the hospital.

Court records show the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges in February against Fiador for one count of reckless homicide, a Class 3 felony.

A Lake County judge signed an arrest warrant for Fiador and he was processed on the warrant at the Lake County Jail in mid-April.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office did not file a petition to detain Fiador pending trial and he was released following a First Appearance Court hearing.

He was set to be arraigned on the charges last month but the hearing is delayed until July 22.