Crystal Lake man killed in motorcycle crash with 17-year-old SUV driver

CRYSTAL LAKE – A 63-year-old Crystal Lake man was killed after a 17-year-old driving an SUV struck his motorcycle Sunday evening in Crystal Lake.

Crystal Lake police and fire rescue members responded about 8:50 p.m. Sunday to Virginia and Rakow roads for a report of a collision, according to a news release from the Crystal Lake Police Department.

When first responders arrived, they found that Peter G. O’Grady, 63, of Crystal Lake, who had been riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash, according to the release.

O’Grady received treatment on the scene and later was taken to Centegra Hospital – Huntley, where he was pronounced dead at 9:59 p.m.

The Crystal Lake Police Department’s Accident Investigation Team has determined in a preliminary investigation that a 17-year-old Crystal Lake boy was driving a blue Ford Expedition south on Virginia Road when he turned left onto Rakow Road and struck the motorcycle in the intersection.

O’Grady’s son, Peter O’Grady, described his father as a proud Catholic, a family man and someone who never backed down from a fight.

“He was the strongest man I knew,” O’Grady said. “He was loved by everyone. He was a people person. He was very outgoing and energetic. Everyone always came to him for advice.”

His son added that O’Grady was passionate about motorcycles.

“Obviously, that’s the way he went out and probably how he wanted it,” he said.

The late Peter O’Grady also was the founder of Porter’s Oyster Bar, which closed about 2006, his son said.

Police are investigating the incident. The teen was not identified because he is a minor. Neither the driver nor any of his four passengers was injured.

Crystal Lake Park District police assisted with traffic control while the intersection was closed for about two hours.

The crash remains under investigation by the Crystal Lake police and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office. Crystal Lake police could not be reached Monday for additional details about the crash.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, according to a news release from the coroner’s office.