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Elgin man dies Friday from crash injuries suffered in Sunday accident

Elgin police said Saturday a 57-year-old Elgin man died Friday afternoon from injuries he suffered in a single-vehicle accident on Sunday, Sept. 30, that they believe was alcohol-related.

Officers believe that the 1998 Ford Explorer, driven by Thomas Merwin of the 100 block of Russell Road was traveling southbound on Russell when it left the roadway by Winding Hill Drive at about 5:10 p.m. Sunday, police said in a news release. Merwin was thrown from the vehicle as it rolled over several times.

He was taken to Provena St. Joseph Hospital, then airlifted to Rockford Memorial Hospital where he died about 5:15 p.m. Friday.

Police said alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash as Merwin’s blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. Elgin’s last alcohol-related fatal crash was in 2009.

“While we have had very few alcohol-related crashes in recent years, one is still too many,” Elgin Police Chief Jeff Swoboda said in a news release.

Police asked that anyone who witnessed the crash contact the traffic unit at (847) 289-2661.

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