An Elgin man died on Nov. 18 after the SUV he was driving crashed into a tree on Kirk Road, authorities said.
St. Charles police and firefighters responded at 3:43 p.m. to the 100 block of South Kirk Road for an accident with injuries.
Officers found a GMC SUV on the west side of the road. The vehicle was next to a tree and had heavy front-end damage.
Authorities said the driver – the sole occupant of the SUV – was unresponsive.
The driver was later identified as Manuel Barraza, 66, of Elgin.
Firefighters extracted Barraza from the vehicle and attempted life-saving measures. Barraza then was taken to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Authorities said the initial investigation showed the SUV struck the tree head-on.
Witnesses reported that they had observed the vehicle traveling northbound on South Kirk Road in the southbound lanes of traffic. The vehicle exited the roadway, struck a sign, and hit a tree.
The St. Charles Police Department is encouraging anyone who might have witnessed the accident to contact the department (630) 377-4435.