Lake and McHenry County Scanner |
- Truck driver who was killed in crash with Metra train was ‘beloved’ father of three kids
- Firefighter injured after fire causes heavy damage to business in Mundelein
- 90 days in jail for drunk driver who crashed into building in Woodstock, seriously injuring woman
- 2 injured after fire engulfs home, leaving it uninhabitable near Round Lake
- Escaped 1,300-pound bison captured by crew of specialists in forest preserve near Wauconda
- Police say Lake Villa man committed sex act on himself in front of children he was babysitting
- Lake and McHenry County officials react to Texas school shooting that left 19 children, 2 teachers dead
- Man allegedly stabbed family member with knife in Island Lake, court docs say
- Illinois health officials warn residents about salmonella outbreak linked to recalled Jif peanut butter
- Woman charged with strangling juvenile daughter, punching her during attack in Lake Villa
- Coroner IDs driver killed after dump truck hit by Metra train, causing partial derailment in Hainesville
- Firefighters quickly stop fire from spreading after heavy flames damage townhome in Gurnee
- 911 dispatcher recognized for helping parents deliver newborn baby in Algonquin
| Truck driver who was killed in crash with Metra train was ‘beloved’ father of three kids Posted: 25 May 2022 05:06 PM PDT    The family of a 41-year-old man who was killed when his dump truck was struck by a Metra train in Hainesville says he was a “beloved” father of three children. An autopsy performed Tuesday showed Jesus Castrejon, 41, of Wheeling, died as a result of blunt force injuries from a vehicle crash, according to Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton. The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District and other emergency crews responded to the area south of Route 120 and Hainesville Road in Hainesville for a report of a train crash. Metra Director of Communications Michael Gillis told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the incident happened just after 7 a.m. Monday.  Metra Milwaukee District North Train #2116 was inbound to Chicago when it struck a dump truck in the crossing at Hainesville Road. Castrejon, who was driving the truck, was pronounced dead at the scene, Gillis and the coroner’s office said. A female passenger on the train was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. The woman’s injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. The first car of the train derailed but was still upright after the incident. Approximately 40 passengers were on the train. The dump truck was split in half during the crash and pushed past the crossing where it came to a rest on the north side of the tracks east of Hainesville Road.  Gillis said there was no train service north of the accident scene and service on the line south of the scene was disrupted. Investigators and crews remained on the scene for much of the day Monday to investigate the incident and rerail the derailed train car. Trains were cleared to resume service from Grayslake through Fox Lake just after 5 p.m. Monday. The crossing where the crash occurred is reportedly a private crossing and has no gates or flashing lights. Aurora resident Kyle Miller, Castrejon’s brother-in-law, said Castrejon was a “beloved son, father, brother, uncle and friend.” Castrejon leaves behind three daughters ages 4, 5 and 18. Miller created a GoFundMe account to help raise money for the funeral and other associated costs. The fund has raised almost $5,000 in less than a day. “He will be greatly missed,” Miller said. The crash remains under investigation by the Metra Police Department. |
| Firefighter injured after fire causes heavy damage to business in Mundelein Posted: 25 May 2022 04:42 PM PDT    A firefighter was transported to the hospital with minor injuries after a fire caused damage to a pawn shop in Mundelein Sunday evening, fire officials said. The Mundelein Fire Department responded at 7:38 p.m. Sunday to 107 North Seymour Avenue in Mundelein for a report of a structure fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene within two minutes and found heavy smoke and flames coming from the front window of the commercial structure, according to Mundelein Fire Department Lieutenant Kurt Rodewald. The first arriving fire crew pulled a hose line to the front of the structure and initiated an aggressive fire attack.  Other firefighters connected a supply line to a nearby fire hydrant for a water supply, Rodewald said. Crews then entered the structure and the adjoining units to check for fire extension and any occupants. The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated, bringing firefighters from numerous departments to the scene. One firefighter sustained minor injuries and was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where they were later released. No one else was injured, Rodewald said. The fire was brought under control at around 8 p.m. The business is a pawn shop called Big Al’s Trading Company, according to a business profile on Yelp.  Five fire engines, one tower ladder, one rescue squad, three ambulances and one incident command vehicle responded and a total of 34 firefighters fought the fire, Rodewald added. The Mundelein Fire Department and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) remind residents to have functioning smoke detectors to provide early warning of a fire. The Mundelein Fire Department was assisted by the Countryside, Buffalo Grove, Grayslake, Lake Zurich, Gurnee, Lake Villa, Round Lake, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Wauconda, Highland Park, Long Grove, Palatine, Palatine Rural and Deerfield-Bannockburn fire departments. Damage estimates were not immediately available and the fire remains under investigation by the Mundelein Fire Department. |
| 90 days in jail for drunk driver who crashed into building in Woodstock, seriously injuring woman Posted: 25 May 2022 02:50 PM PDT   A drunk driver who was more than four times over the legal limit when he crashed into a Woodstock business, seriously injuring a female customer inside, has been sentenced to 90 days in jail. Jose L. Urbina, 35, of the 300 block of Ridgeland Avenue West in Woodstock, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence on a suspended license, aggravated driving under the influence causing a bodily harm accident and two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol. The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District and Woodstock Police Department responded on May 14, 2021, to the Woodstock Food Mart, 1013 North Route 47 in Woodstock. Dispatchers received a call of a single-vehicle crash with injuries and a report of a person trapped, according to the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District. Firefighters arrived and found a blue 2014 Buick SUV, driven by Urbina, that had crashed into the convenience store, heavily damaging the storefront. Fire crews quickly assessed the scene and located an injured female patron inside the store amongst the rubble, fire officials said at the time. The female victim was airlifted by a LifeNet medical helicopter to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville in serious condition. Urbina was the only person in the car. He was uninjured in the crash and declined medical attention at the scene.  Police officers arrested him at the scene and transported him to the McHenry County Jail. A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said that Urbina was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. He was also driving on a driver’s license that was suspended due to a previous DUI case, the complaint said, adding that the female victim sustained great bodily harm. A law enforcement report filed in court said that Urbina submitted to blood alcohol content testing. He blew an alcohol concentration of 0.323, which is over four times the legal limit of 0.08. The reporting officer said that Urbina displayed confusion at the scene, had bloodshot glassy eyes and failed field testing. On Wednesday, Urbina pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence causing an accident, a Class 4 felony, and driving on a suspended license third offense, a Class 4 felony. Prosecutors dismissed Urbina’s other charges as a result of the plea deal, court records show. McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt approved the deal and sentenced Urbina to 180 days in jail with the sentence being served at 50%. Urbina received credit for time already served in the McHenry County Jail awaiting his case. With the 105 days of credit, Urbina’s 90-day sentence is considered served. Wilbrandt also ordered Urbina to serve 30 months of probation, attend a victim impact panel and complete a high-risk driving under the influence program. In sentencing Urbina, Wilbrandt noted in his sentencing order that the man’s conduct was the result of “circumstances unlikely to recur” and his character indicates he is “unlikely to commit another crime.” Urbina will also be required to pay $4,032 in court fines and fees. |
| 2 injured after fire engulfs home, leaving it uninhabitable near Round Lake Posted: 25 May 2022 02:05 PM PDT    Two people were injured, including one that had to be transported to the hospital, after heavy flames engulfed a house near Round Lake Wednesday morning. The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded around 6:32 a.m. Wednesday to the 35000 block of North Wabash Avenue in unincorporated Round Lake. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find heavy fire showing from multiple windows of a one-story, single-family dwelling, according to Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Eric Hair. The occupants of the residence had exited the structure prior to the arrival of the fire department.  The fire occurred in a non-hydranted area of the fire district and water shuttle operations were initiated. Approximately 30,000 gallons of water were shuttled to the scene, Hair said. Initial arriving firefighters were able to contain the fire to the initial structure and protect the adjacent residences. The fire was declared under control at 7:20 a.m., almost an hour after the call came out. Fire crews worked for an additional two hours locating and extinguishing hot spots, Hair said.  One occupant was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and did not require transport to the hospital. A second occupant was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with non-life-threatening injuries. Hair said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Firefighters from Grayslake, Fox Lake, Wauconda, Lake Villa, Antioch, Gurnee, Mundelein and Richmond responded to the scene to assist. Additional crews from the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department and Lake Zurich Fire Department responded to other calls in the Round Lake area during the incident. The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District said that residents should ensure they have working smoke detectors and an established home exit plan. |
| Escaped 1,300-pound bison captured by crew of specialists in forest preserve near Wauconda Posted: 25 May 2022 11:43 AM PDT    Officials say a crew of specialists on Wednesday were able to humanely capture the escaped bison from a forest preserve in Wauconda. It had been on the loose for months. “Tyson the Bison,” also called “Billy the Bison,” had been on the loose in the western Lake County and eastern McHenry County area. The female bison was being corralled into an enclosure from a trailer when she managed to escape from a farm in Wauconda in mid-September. The animal has been spotted dozens of times by Wauconda and Island Lakes residents, who have taken videos and photos and posted them on social media. Officials say they believe she settled at Lakewood Forest Preserve in unincorporated Wauconda in early April. Lake County Forest Preserve officials said they worked for the past several days with a professional livestock specialist from Illinois to capture the bison. Matt Noble, the owner of Loose Cattle Caught, was brought in on Friday to assist in humanely capturing the bison. He utilized a crew of specialists, a drone, a horse and a dog in an attempt to locate the bison.  She was located early Wednesday morning and Noble “lightly” tranquilized the animal, the Lake County Forest Preserves said. The tranquilizer did not put her in danger or make her fall to the ground, officials said. Its purpose was to slow her down. The bison slowly made its way to the barn for food and Noble was able to close the door behind her. “We are thankful the animal has been removed from the forest preserve safely before Memorial Day weekend when attendance at preserves increases,” Lake County Forest Preserves Chief Operations Officer Mike Tully said. “The safety of our users and the animal has been our No. 1 priority throughout this process. Bison are considered domestic livestock in Illinois, therefore roaming free in a public forest preserve is not an appropriate place for it to call home,” he said. Noble backed his trailer into the barn and was able to relocate the bison to his compound where the animal is healthy and under observation, Tully said. Noble is in the process of contacting the owner of the bison. Last week, forest preserve officials said they wanted the bison captured by Memorial Day because of the increase in attendance at the preserves. |
| Police say Lake Villa man committed sex act on himself in front of children he was babysitting Posted: 25 May 2022 10:32 AM PDT   Investigators say a 32-year-old man masturbated in front of children he was babysitting and exposed them to sexual material on separate occasions at his home near Lake Villa. Steven A. Rodgers, 32, of the 26400 block of West Cedar Crest Lane in unincorporated Lake Villa, was charged with sexual exploitation of a child and dissemination of harmful material. Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said detectives began investigating Rodgers after becoming aware of a situation that occurred in April. A child, who was under the age of 10, reported that Rodgers played pornography on a computer for the two of them to watch. Rodgers, who was babysitting the child, began masturbating while watching it, Covelli said. Further police investigation showed that Rodgers likely did this with another child, who was under the age of 15, during a similar circumstance, Covelli said. Both instances occurred at Rodgers' residence near Lake Villa. Sheriff’s detectives arrested Rodgers on May 17 after the Lake County State's Attorney's Office approved charges against him. A Lake County judge ordered Rodgers held on a $300,000 bond. Rodgers was released from the Lake County Jail after posting $30,000 cash last week. He is scheduled to appear in court again on June 23. |
| Posted: 25 May 2022 08:30 AM PDT    Lake County and McHenry County officials say they are horrified by the “senseless” act of violence after a gunman shot and killed 19 children and two teachers at a school in Texas. The incident happened at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday morning. An 18-year-old man, who was armed with two guns, entered the school and opened fire after crashing his car nearby. At least 19 children and two teachers have died so far, police said. Multiple police officers were shot after exchanging gunfire with the suspect. The suspect was shot and killed. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he was “outraged, devastated, and utterly exhausted” for the families of Robb Elementary School. “As we grieve with the Uvalde community, we must continue our work toward ending the gun violence epidemic in our country. We must do it now. No more prayers without action,” Pritzker said. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said their hearts go out to all of the families who lost family and loved ones in the “senseless mass shooting and murder of children and staff at Robb Elementary, in Uvalde, TX.” The sheriff’s office called the shooting “absolutely horrific.” “For the second time in just a few days, I am grieving with a community that has lost their sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters due to senseless gun violence,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said. “For the second time in just a few days, I once again state firmly and strongly that thoughts and prayers are not – and have never been – enough to stem the epidemic of gun violence that has gripped our country,” Rinehart said. “Everyone deserves to be safe in their community, and once again, our society has failed the 14 children and 1 teacher murdered in Texas today. Their loved ones should not be screaming into the void, they should be comforted by action,” he added. Rinehart called for legislation at the federal level to “stop this once and for all.” “Our hearts are with the families, friends, teachers, first responders, and the community of Uvalde, Texas this evening,” the Gurnee Police Department said. The Antioch Police Department said their “hearts are broken for the innocent children and adults” who were killed. The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department said that city flags would be lowered to half-staff until Saturday as a mark of respect for the victims of the “senseless acts of violence.” The Union Fire Protection District said the loss of innocent life is “one that cannot be understood or explained.” “Seeing the events that took place we are at a complete loss for words… On behalf of the members of the Union Fire Protection District we wanted to send our thoughts and prayers out to all those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy in Texas today,” the fire district said. The Marengo Police Department offered their thoughts and prayers and called the shooting “horrific” and “senseless.” |
| Man allegedly stabbed family member with knife in Island Lake, court docs say Posted: 24 May 2022 05:14 PM PDT   An Island Lake man was arrested by officers Monday evening after he allegedly stabbed a family member in the leg at a residence in Island Lake, court documents show. Thomas M. Pozzie, 28, of the 3600 block of Linden Drive in Island Lake, was charged with aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, aggravated domestic battery and domestic battery causing bodily harm. The Island Lake Police Department and Wauconda Fire District responded around 8:50 p.m. Monday to a 911 call of a stabbing in the 3600 block of Linden Drive in Island Lake. A male victim had been stabbed in the calf area with a knife, according to a criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court. The man sustained a wound that was four inches in length and one inch in depth. The victim was transported to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington for treatment. The complaint said that Pozzie stabbed the victim, who is a family member of his. Officers arrested Pozzie and transported him to the McHenry County Jail where he was ordered held on a $40,000 bond. Pozzie was released Tuesday morning after posting 10% of his bond, court records show. A court hearing in the case is next scheduled for Thursday. |
| Posted: 24 May 2022 04:33 PM PDT    State health officials are warning Illinois residents to immediately dispose of recalled Jif peanut butter products that may be contaminated with salmonella. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced Tuesday that they are working with local health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate the multi-state outbreak of salmonella infections linked to certain Jif peanut butter products. On Friday, the J.M. Smucker Company recalled multiple types of Jif peanut butter due to potential salmonella contamination. Epidemiologic and laboratory data show some Jif peanut butter products may be contaminated with salmonella, IDPH said. The CDC said 14 people from 12 states were infected with salmonella, with illnesses starting February 17. One case included in the outbreak investigation was from central Illinois. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believes Jif peanut butter produced at the J.M. Smucker Company facility in Lexington, Kentucky, is the likely cause of illnesses in the salmonella outbreak. Consumers should check this list of recalled products to see if they have any and check the lot code number of the container located next to the “best if used by” date. If the lot code number is between 1274425 through 2140425 with “425” at the end of the first seven numbers, the product should be disposed of immediately. Recalled Jif peanut butter should not be eaten, sold or served to any humans or animals, health officials said. Surfaces and containers that may have touched the recalled peanut butter should be washed with hot, soapy water. Symptoms of salmonella include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Anyone experiencing these symptoms 12 to 72 hours after consuming Jif peanut butter products should contact their health care provider. Health officials in Illinois are continuing to work on identifying additional cases and performing lab testing, IDPH added. |
| Woman charged with strangling juvenile daughter, punching her during attack in Lake Villa Posted: 24 May 2022 02:35 PM PDT   Prosecutors say a Winthrop Harbor woman strangled her juvenile daughter and punched her during an attack at a residence in Lake Villa. Corrie R. Vandervere, 36, of Winthrop Harbor, was charged with aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery and two counts of domestic battery. Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kelse Banks said during a bond hearing on Tuesday that Vandervere went to her mother’s home on February 22. Vandervere’s children live with her mother and Vandervere is only allowed supervised visitation through the Department of Children and Family Services, Banks said. Vandervere, who was intoxicated, allegedly attempted to take her 1-year-old child from her mother’s apartment. Vandervere began arguing with her mother and one of Vandervere’s children, who is in her late teens, heard the altercation. Banks said the teen came out to see what was happening and Vandervere pushed her daughter to the ground and started to punch her. Vandervere grabbed her teenage daughter by the neck twice during the incident, Banks said. Vandervere allegedly squeezed the victim’s neck, partially blocking her airway. The victim and Vandervere’s mother held down Vandervere at one point but she was able to break free. Vandervere attempted to fight the victim again before going to the kitchen of the residence where she grabbed a knife and then cut her own wrists, Banks said. Officers responded and observed scratches on the victim’s neck and bruises on her arms. A warrant was issued for Vandervere on February 23 and she was arrested on Monday, records show. Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak kept the bond at $100,000, which was set when the warrant was issued. Vandervere would need to post $10,000 cash in order to be released from the Lake County Jail. She is scheduled to appear in court again on June 22. |
| Posted: 24 May 2022 12:29 PM PDT    The coroner’s office has released the identity of a 41-year-old man killed after his dump truck was struck by a Metra train, causing the train to partially derail Monday in Hainesville. An autopsy performed Tuesday showed Jesus Castrejon, 41, of Wheeling, died as a result of blunt force injuries from a vehicle crash, according to Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton. The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District and other emergency crews responded to the area south of Route 120 and Hainesville Road in Hainesville for a report of a train crash. Metra Director of Communications Michael Gillis told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the incident happened just after 7 a.m. Monday. Metra Milwaukee District North Train #2116 was inbound to Chicago when it struck a dump truck in the crossing at Hainesville Road. Castrejon, who was driving the truck, was pronounced dead at the scene, Gillis and the coroner’s office said. A female passenger on the train was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. The woman’s injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. The first car of the train derailed but was still upright after the incident. Approximately 40 passengers were on the train. The dump truck was split in half during the crash and pushed past the crossing where it came to a rest on the north side of the tracks east of Hainesville Road. Gillis said there was no train service north of the accident scene and service on the line south of the scene was disrupted. Investigators and crews remained on the scene for much of the day Monday to investigate the incident and rerail the derailed train car. Trains were cleared to resume service from Grayslake through Fox Lake just after 5 p.m. Monday. The crossing where the crash occurred is reportedly a private crossing and has no gates or flashing lights. The crash remains under investigation by the Metra Police Department. |
| Firefighters quickly stop fire from spreading after heavy flames damage townhome in Gurnee Posted: 24 May 2022 10:40 AM PDT    Heavy flames damaged a townhouse in Gurnee Saturday but firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze before it spread to adjoining units, fire officials said. The Gurnee Fire Department and Gurnee Police Department responded around 1:27 a.m. Saturday to the 900 block of Taylor Drive in Gurnee. Dispatchers received a call for a report of a fire in a four-unit building. Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire coming through the roof of a single townhome. Multiple hose lines were used to extinguish the fire and protect the adjoining units, the fire department said. The fire was confined to one townhouse and extinguished within 23 minutes of arrival at the scene. All residents and pets were evacuated without injury by Gurnee police officers prior to the fire department’s arrival. The fire was contained to the single unit and families of the remaining three units were able to return home that night. A damage estimate was not immediately available. Firefighters and paramedics from Grayslake, Newport, Mundelein, Lake Villa, Zion and Libertyville were called to the scene to assist with extinguishing the fire and provide coverage for other calls in Gurnee. |
| 911 dispatcher recognized for helping parents deliver newborn baby in Algonquin Posted: 24 May 2022 08:38 AM PDT    A 911 dispatcher will be honored Wednesday for helping parents who called 911 with delivering their newborn baby until paramedics arrived in Algonquin. Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District Deputy Chief John Knebl said that Southeast Emergency Communications (SEECOM) Telecommunicator Jodi Kaalaas will be honored at Wednesday evening’s Fire Trustee meeting. Kaalaas calmly provided emergency medical instructions to the Algonquin parents over the phone when they called 911 from a husband stating his wife was in labor. Before the ambulance arrived on the scene, Kaalaas continued giving instructions as the baby was born, Knebl said. The paramedics arrived within four minutes to continue providing care for the mom and her newborn baby. Both were transported to an area hospital and are doing well. “Emergency dispatchers are the unsung heroes of emergency services. They are in the background providing critical information to assist callers and provide valuable information to first responders,” Knebl said. He said that dispatcher-assisted childbirths are rare in McHenry County and only a small number happen every few years. “Dispatchers must be prepared to handle any type of emergency 911 call. To be prepared, dispatchers must become trained and certified nationally through The National/International Academics of Emergency Dispatchers,” Knebl said. “By obtaining this certification, it allows dispatchers to provide the needed information for any situation in which they receive a 911 call. The ALFPD would like to thank all emergency dispatchers for their dedicated service in providing the valuable services needed,” he added. |
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