IDOT worker killed on the job in Woodstock

A 34-year-old Illinois Department of Transportation worker was killed on the job Monday morning in Woodstock while taking measurements of the western lanes at Route 14, police said.

Meanwhile, the 67-year-old driver police say was responsible for running into the worker faces charges of his own.

Ryan J. Nichols, a maintenance employee from Kenosha, Wis., was hit by a Mercury Grand Marquis on Route 14, just west of Route 47, Woodstock Sgt. Chip Amati said.

At 8:34 a.m., Woodstock police and the fire rescue district responded to the crash. The Woodstock Fire Rescue District took Nichols to Woodstock Centegra Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Nichols’ autopsy shows he died of severe head trauma he sustained after he was thrown into the air and landed on the pavement, McHenry County Deputy Coroner Kim Bostic said.

Police say James J. Berles of Woodstock was driving the car on westbound Route 14 and that charges are pending in the case. Berles was allowed to go home while authorities await the results of a blood-alcohol test before announcing the charges, Amati said.

Police expect to have the results Tuesday morning, Amati said.