Hampshire man dies in Elgin crash

A 52-year-old Hampshire man was killed Tuesday morning after his vehicle veered off Route 20 in Elgin and struck a tree, according to police.

At about 7:20 a.m. Richard Fitzgerald, the only passenger in a 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup truck, struck the tree about 100 yards south of the Reinking Road intersection, officials said.

A Life Flight helicopter was called to the scene, but Fitzgerald was eventually taken by ambulance to St. Joseph-Provena Hospital where he later died, said Elgin Fire Department Capt. Rob Cagann.

Fire officials said Fitzgerald was heavily pinned in the vehicle and had to be extricated.

Emergency crews from Pingree Grove were the first at the scene, and were later assisted by the Elgin police and fire departments.

The accident remains under investigation by the Elgin Police Department.