Police, firefighters and paramedics from Waukegan responded about 9:01 p.m. Saturday, July 24, 2021 to a report of a serious crash involving an utility pole at Dugdale Road near Lewis Avenue in Waukegan.
Police and firefighters on the scene discovered that the crash caused power lines to fall to the ground. The live power lines were also in contact with the the black Dodge Charger with two vehicle occupants inside. ComEd crews were requested to expedite to the scene to de-energize the power line. The electrical hazard required that firefighters standby until ComEd crews de-energized the line and determined the scene was safe for firefighters to approach the Dodge Charger for extrication.
Firefighters used a Hurst cutter and spreader tool to extricate the crash victims for a period of about one hour. At least three battery-powered spreader/cutter tools were used or placed near the vehicle.
The driver of the Dodge Charger suffered traumatic cardiac arrest as he was being transferred to a LifeNet helicopter, and the airlift was canceled because of the condition of cardiac arrest. The driver was then rushed by paramedics treating him with CPR and Advanced Life Support to Vista Medical Center East, where he was pronounced dead when resuscitation efforts failed.
The passenger in the Dodge Charger was transported to an undisclosed hospital. The male in his 20s and a resident of Racine, Wisconsin was treated for injuries initially believed to be non-life-threatening.
Only male driver from Waukegan occupied the black Honda Accord. The man in his 20s was treated at the scene and refused medical transportation by paramedics.
Waukegan Police Department’s initial investigation indicated that the driver of the black Dodge Charger was traveling south-westbound in the block of 1900 Dugdale Road at high speed when he lost control and struck an north-eastbound black Honda Accord before hitting the utility pole.
The intrusion of the utility pole occurred through the front-end engine compartment at least to the dashboard or firewall area of the Dodge Charger. The utility pole through the front-end of the charge was place more toward the driver’s side.
The Waukegan Police Department Major Crash Unit was assigned to the scene, and excessive speed is initially indicated as a factor in the crash. Dugdale Road is a highly-traveled curbed residential street with a posted Speed Limit of 25 MPH, according to a Google Maps Street View image captured September 2019.
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