The identity of a man killed in a crash involving a disabled vehicle at Lake Cook Road and Quentin Road was released today, Thursday, January 15, 2026 as 95-year-old Richard A. Krzysztofiak, of Palatine. On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, an autopsy was conducted at the Lake County Coroner’s Office. Preliminary results indicated that Mr. Krzysztofiak died from Blunt Force Injuries as a result of the crash.
On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at approximately 3:15 p.m., 911 callers reported a serious traffic crash in the intersection of Lake Cook Road and Quentin Road. Moments before that, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a disabled auto in the same location. Emergency personnel arrived and found two heavily damaged vehicles and a 95-year-old man with fatal injuries in the roadway. Preliminary investigation suggests that the deceased was attending to his vehicle, which had become disabled in the center lane, when it was struck from behind by a second vehicle.
Firefighters and paramedics from Lake Zurich Fire Rescue and Palatine Fire Department were assigned to the scene for EMS treatment and transport, and also for extrication when a victim was found trapped under his disabled vehicle.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office was notified and responded to the scene.
The crash investigation is ongoing by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Team.
On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at approximately 3:15 p.m., 911 callers reported a serious traffic crash in the intersection of Lake Cook Road and Quentin Road. Moments before that reported crash, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a call for a disabled auto in the same location.
Lake County Sheriff’s deputies arrived and discovered a man deceased in the roadway, along with two heavily damaged vehicles.
A preliminary investigation shows a westbound 2006 Honda Accord, driven by a 95-year-old man of Palatine, broke down and became disabled in a westbound lane of Lake Cook Road, just east of Quentin Road. The Honda Accord was in the center lane, between the left turn lane and outside-through lane (right lane). Based on witness statements, the driver of the Honda Accord exited his vehicle and began looking underneath the vehicle, under the engine area.
As the driver was under his car, a westbound 2024 Honda HR-V, driven by a 30-year-old man of Cary, struck the Honda Accord from behind. This caused major injuries to the man under his car, and unfortunately, he died at the scene.
The driver of the Honda HR-V, along with a passenger in the Honda HR-V, a 30-year-old woman of Arlington Heights, were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A passenger in the Honda Accord, a 77-year-old woman of Barrington, was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A school bus, only occupied by the driver, that was waiting to turn left onto southbound Quentin Road from westbound Lake Cook Road, was sideswiped during the crash. The driver of the school bus was uninjured.
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