A triple tragedy for Inverness family

Two days after loved ones buried Richard Herrell, they stood by his wife Betty's deathbed. Hours later, more devastating news: A motorist had struck and killed the Herrells' 52-year-old son, Jeffrey.

An entire family gone.

"I can't even find words for it. I'm completely numb," said Cara Stamey, Betty's younger sister. "I can't imagine why the Lord took them together."

Terminally ill with cancer, Betty Herrell, 72, died around 2:30 a.m. Thursday at her home in Inverness.

Jeffrey, who lived with his parents and didn't have a driver's license, was bicycling north on the shoulder of Roselle Road near Central Road when he was struck around 9:30 a.m. the same morning, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office determined he died of multiple injuries and ruled his death an accident.

Stamey, of Aurora, said the family will never know why Jeffrey was out in the cold weather on a busy four-lane road.

"We went to the house and it looked like he was fixing a VCR," she said. "Maybe he needed a part."

Authorities said the 23-year-old Hoffman Estates man who struck Jeffrey told them the bicycle swerved into the street. Stamey doesn't believe it was on purpose, but speculated her nephew may have been distraught. She added Jeffrey had excellent vision despite having lost one eye as a child.

"Maybe it was black ice. I just feel so bad for that young man (the driver). He must be traumatized," said Stamey. "I'm sure he's replaying what happened in his mind, but we know this was just a freakish, horrible accident."

The crash remains under investigation and no charges have been filed, said Cook County sheriff's spokeswoman Penny Mateck.

Police initially believed Richard Herrell's death was suspicious and investigated, but the medical examiner's office determined the 75-year-old died of natural causes.

Stamey described her nephew as compassionate and skilled in carpentry. He is survived by son Daniel and brother Rick.

There will be a double funeral, said Stamey.

"We can't imagine doing them separately," she said. "We're just trying to function."

The Herrells were longtime residents of Palatine and downsized to an Inverness condo about a year ago. Richard taught his boys to fish and hunt, and Betty was a doting mother who loved the holidays, said Stamey.

Though Richard died the Sunday before, the family celebrated Thanksgiving.

"Bless Betty's heart," said Stamey. "She managed maybe three bites but she was going to be a part of the family."

• Staff Writer Eric Peterson contributed to this report.