Former Gilberts official dies after Elgin crash
Longtime Gilberts resident William "Bill" Linden, a former chairman of the village's zoning board of appeals, died Monday from injuries he suffered in a two-vehicle crash in Elgin.
The crash took place just before 5 a.m. June 12 at Randall Road and Route 72, when the 64-year-old Linden was on his way to work in East Dundee, his son Josh said.
Linden was transferred from Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin to the trauma unit at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he died Monday afternoon.
Elgin police are investigating the crash, and asking any witnesses to come forward by calling the department (847) 289-2700, Deputy Chief Bill Wolf said.
Both drivers said they had the right of way, and there are no cameras at that intersection, he said.
The other driver, a 26-year-old man from Carpentersville, was treated at the scene.
Linden suffered a broken pelvis and sternum, then had internal bleeding and eventually his heart stopped, his son said. "At first we thought he was going to be OK," he said. "Then it was just one thing after another."
Bill Linden had lived in Gilberts since 1982, and he had been working at a gas station about five years while phasing out his Linden Typography business in Gilberts, his son said.
"He was just a super nice guy that everybody loved. All of our friends and family ... I don't know too many people who didn't like him," Josh Linden said.
Linden served on the zoning board of appeals from 1984 until 2012, village officials said.
Linden declined to be appointed to a new board that combined the zoning board and the planning commission, saying it was time for others to take his place, Village President Rick Zirk said. "He was just a decent person."
Linden is also survived by his wife, Kathy; son Jason Linden of Streamwood; and daughters Heather Elipas of Maple Park and Karen Danca of Sleepy Hollow.
The family will hold a celebration of life from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. July 1 at the Eagles Club, 325 Raymond Drive, Gilberts.