Update on man struck by instructor’s vehicle at McHenry County College
CRYSTAL LAKE – On Sunday, July 11, there was a reported incident of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in the E parking lot of McHenry County College (MCC) located on 8900 Route 14 in Crystal Lake.
According to the Lake & McHenry County Scanner, the McHenry County College Police Department and the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department responded to the incident at around 1:58 p.m.
It appeared that an MCC motorcycle class instructor was driving his personal Jeep vehicle on the campus parking lot after class when he “hit the gas,” and struck a student of his, who was unable to move out of the way in time, reported the Lake & McHenry County Scanner.
The student has been identified as Tyler Tomasello of Crystal Lake.
Lucy Lee, a friend of Tomasello’s mother Carrie, explained that the Jeep pinned Tomasello against a parked Ford Ranger, resulting in a crushed pelvis.
Tomasello had already been freed from the two vehicles by the time firefighters arrived on scene. Paramedics then transported Tomasello to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Woodstock, where a LifeNet medical helicopter was called to airlift him to Advocate Condell Medical Center—Lake County’s only Level 1 trauma center—in Libertyville.
Lee, who started a GoFundMe fundraiser for Tomasello and his family, stated that countless tests and scans, revealed Tomasello to have sustained multiple breaks in his pelvis and surrounding areas.
Tomasello underwent surgery on July 15, where Lee revealed that Tomasello had to have “a large screw in his front inferior ramus and also a 6-inch screw through [his] sacrum and sacroiliac joints.”
“Good news is the doctor feels very good about Tyler’s future. He estimated another 12 weeks at least until he walks again on his own,” Lee said.
On Wednesday, July 21, Lee stated that Tomasello was finally able to head home, where two friends had installed a wheelchair ramp at the front door entrance to Tomasello’s house.
MCC officials stated they are unable to share information pertaining to the incident, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
My Huntley News reached out to MCC Chief of Police J.C. Paez, but was not able to receive an immediate request for comment.
Lee said that Tomasello will require countless hours of physical therapy before he is able to walk again and the funds received from GoFundMe will be put towards things like travel expenses, food expenses and medical expenses not covered by insurance.
The GoFundMe has already reached a little over $8,000 of its $10,000 goal.
To donate to Tomasello’s GoFundMe account, visit gofund.me/f2650ddd.
