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Wisconsin man jailed on $200,000 bail in connection with fatal crash

A Wisconsin man has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence causing death and other offenses involving a fatal crash Tuesday morning on Route 120 west of Route 12 near Lakemoor.

Kenneth F. Szczesny Jr., 28, of Kenosha, also was charged with reckless homicide and improper lane usage in connection with the crash that resulted in the death of Gordon Searle, 46, of Lindenhurst. Szczesny was held Wednesday afternoon in the Lake County jail on $200,000 bail and he would need post 10 percent of that amount to be released. A court date has been set for Dec. 18.

According to Lake County Sheriff's police Sgt. Sara Balmes, Szczesny was the driver of a GMC 3500 pickup traveling east on Route 120 that crossed the center median and struck a westbound Honda Accord driven by Searle. Debris struck a UPS delivery truck that was behind the Accord. Szczesny's truck then struck a pickup and landscape trailer parked unoccupied at the Planet Earth lawn care service west of Fisher Road.

Searle died as a result of multiple traumatic injuries, including lacerations to the aorta, liver and spleen and he had multiple fractures and cuts, according to Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd.

Balmes said an unidentified male passenger in Searle's car was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, but his condition was unknown.

Route 120 between Darrell Road and Fisher Road was closed for more than six hours until just after 4 p.m. Tuesday as authorities investigated the crash.

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