Fox River boat crash: 2 dead after boat runs aground, hits house in McHenry County, coroner says

MCHENRY, Ill. (WLS) -- Two people died after a boat crashed into a home along the Fox River in unincorporated McHenry on Saturday afternoon, the Lake County Coroner's Office said Monday afternoon.

The McHenry Township Fire Protection District, McHenry County Sheriff's Office and Illinois Conservation Police responded about 5:40 p.m. Saturday to the 600-block of Country Club Drive for a boat crash, the coroner's office said.

A female victim was pronounced dead on the scene, and a McHenry man was transported by medical helicopter to Advocate Condell Medical Center, the coroner's office said.

He died in the operating room, and was identified as Timothy Mertins, 62.

An autopsy performed Monday showed Mertins died from blunt force injuries as a result of the crash, the coroner's office said.

Sgt. Eric Schreiber with the Department of Natural Resources said the crash caused minor damage to the house.

The frightening moments were caught on a nearby surveillance camera.



Illinois Conservation Police continue to investigate the crash.