Austin Watts Dies After Head Trauma from Car Surfing in Crystal Lake Thursday

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Austin Watts, 20, of Hoffman Estates died Saturday after ‘car surfing’ and falling off the top of a vehicle late Thursday.

Austin Watts, 20, was positioned on the roof of a 2002 Chevrolet Impala about 11:30 p.m. Thursday when he fell off and struck his head on the pavement in the Walmart parking lot, 1205 S. Rt. 31, Crystal Lake.


Watts was listed in critical condition at Centegra Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry, and died about 10:20 a.m. Saturday, according to a hospital official.

The McHenry County coroner’s office has scheduled an autopsy at 9 a.m. Monday to determine the official cause of death.

Toxicology test were conducted at the hospital. Results are expected in about four to six weeks.

According to Crystal Lake police, Stephen D. Gallagher, 19, of the 1800 block of Hemlock Place in Schaumburg was driving the vehicle when Watts fell from the Chevy Impala to the pavement. Gallagher was initially charged with misdemeanor reckless driving and felony reckless conduct involving great bodily harm. No word is available on upgrade to the charges following the death of Austin Watts.


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