Spring Grove woman killed by her own van

An 83-year-old Spring Grove woman was killed after slipping and falling under a rolling van that she had exited without first shifting it into park, McHenry County authorities said.

June A. Severs died as a result of the accident that occurred about 2 a.m. Friday, according to the McHenry County sheriff’s office.

Sheriff Keith Nygren said the Spring Grove Fire Protection District and Fox Lake Fire Department responded to the call for medical assistance at Severs’ home. He said paramedics were preparing to bring Severs’ husband to a hospital when she backed her 2010 Dodge van from a garage into a driveway turnaround.

Nygren said Severs had intended to follow the ambulance to the hospital when, for an unknown reason, she stopped the van.

However, authorities said, Severs did not first shift the van’s transmission into park and stepped from it onto wet pavement, causing her to fall under the vehicle. Police said the van rolled backward and caused fatal injuries to Severs.

Severs was taken to Centegra Hospital McHenry, where she was pronounced dead.