Gurnee man killed in fiery McHenry County crash

A 29 year-old Gurnee man was killed Saturday when a minivan he was driving veered off a northern McHenry County road, hit a tree and caught fire, authorities said Sunday.

The man, who is not being identified pending notification of family, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, at Route 173 and Price Road in Hebron. He was the only person in the vehicle.

McHenry County Sheriff's police said the man was driving a 2002 Mercury Villager eastbound on Route 173 shortly before 2 p.m. when it went off the road to the south and struck the tree. Due to damage to the vehicle, it was not apparent if air bags deployed or seat belts were used, according to sheriff's police.

Pending toxicology results from the McHenry County coroner's office will determine whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, authorities said.

The intersection of Route 173 and Price Road was closed for several hours after the crash. An investigation is ongoing by the sheriff's Traffic Crash Investigations Unit, Criminal Investigation Division and the coroner's office.