Captain John C. Winkelman of the Huntley Fire Department was killed in a motorcycle accident in Crystal Lake, Illinois, on April 12.
Winkelman, who was from Marengo and known by all as “Winky,” was riding his 2007 Harley-Davidson west on Route 176 at about 3:00 Thursday afternoon. According to Crystal Lake police Commander Dan Dziewior, a Chrysler Concorde pulled out in front of Winkelman from Mt. Thabor Road. His motorcycle struck the driver’s-side door, and Winkelman was thrown from the bike. He had not been wearing a helmet.
When emergency workers arrived at the scene of the accident, they found 54-year-old Winkelman unconscious and began doing CPR on him. Paramedics continued the CPR en route to Centegra Memorial Medical Center in Woodstock, but he never regained consciousness.
The 27-year-old Woodstock woman who was driving the car that pulled out in front of Winkelman’s motorcycle had been trying to cross Route 176 to Haligus Road. The woman was also taken to the hospital, but with minor injuries. She told police that she saw the motorcycle at the last minute but was not able to avoid collision.
Police examined the scene of the wreck for about three hours, and initial reports indicated that Winkelman had not been speeding. Several accidents have taken place at the intersection where the crash occurred.
“I think one of the factors that make this intersection different than any other ‘T’ or four-way intersection is that there is a slight jog in the road. It’s not a straight crossing on Route 176,” said Cmdr. Dziewior.
We extend our condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of Captain Winkelman.