Man lights truck on fire, throws knives during car show

An Oswego man died at the Newark Car Show on Saturday after a fight during which he lit his truck on fire and threw knives at another man, the Kendall County sheriff's office said.

Ricke Van Riper, 55, of the first block of Rickard Drive, arrived at the car show around noon and began arguing with his estranged wife, police said. Van Riper then took a can of gasoline from his truck, doused his vehicle and lit it on fire.

Van Riper then began fighting with an unnamed man before getting back into his burning vehicle to retrieve several knives, which he threw at the man, police said.

"First it was some smaller throwing knives, then some larger knives," Deputy Craig French said.

Van Riper then attempted to stab the man with a knife, but was subdued by bystanders.

Police said Van Riper suffered a head injury during the altercation and was unconscious when the arrived at the scene.

French said the incident happened almost immediately after Van Riper arrived at the show.

"Witnesses say they were calling 911 instantly," French said.

He was taken to Valley West Hospital in Sandwich, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities said Van Riper's cause of death still is under investigation, but do not believe it was caused by the head injury.

The second man was taken to the hospital for minor injuries and released.

The Kendall County sheriff's office is still investigating the incident.