Alcohol a factor in fatal Crystal Lake motorcycle crash

A former high school football standout and firefighter trainee had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit when he was killed in a motorcycle crash this month, according to toxicology results released Monday.

Trent Steckel, 24, of Crystal Lake, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.214, more than double Illinois' legal limit of 0.08, according to Deputy McHenry County Coroner Curt Bradshaw.

Bradshaw released the toxicology results after concluding the coroner's office's investigation into Steckel's death.

Steckel died at 1:10 a.m. July 2 after his 2005 Honda motorcycle ran off the road and into a culvert near Crystal Lake. Steckel had been heading north on Live Oak Road south of Spyglass Ridge, police said.

He was riding alone and not wearing a helmet, according to the McHenry County Sheriff's Office.

Steckel had been a key player on the Crystal Lake South football squad. He was named Daily Herald all-area co-captain in 2002 before playing tight end at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

After graduating, he spent a year training to become a firefighter. He was about to finish his firefighter training and begin a probationary period as a first responder before he died.