Accident – death – Obituary News :

Lakemoor Man Charged with DUI in Fatal Crash Near Harvard

A Lakemoor resident is now facing charges of driving under the influence (DUI) and causing a fatal car crash near Harvard, which claimed the life of a promising 21-year-old student. Max P. McNamara, aged 31, was formally charged on Thursday with two counts of aggravated DUI resulting in a fatal crash. The charges have been upgraded to Class 2 felonies, and a warrant for his arrest has been issued.

The incident in question occurred on October 1, at approximately 1:52 a.m., when a three-vehicle collision took place on Route 173, just west of Flat Iron Road in unincorporated Harvard. Emergency response teams from various agencies, including the Harvard Fire Protection District, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Harvard Police Department, Capron Rescue Squad, Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts, and Mercyhealth MD-1, were dispatched to the scene.

The subsequent investigation revealed that McNamara was driving a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado in an eastbound direction on Route 173. However, he veered into the westbound lane, resulting in a collision with the front left portion of a 2017 Lincoln MKX. The impact caused the Lincoln to veer off the roadway towards the south. McNamara’s Chevrolet then continued traveling eastbound, ultimately colliding head-on with a 2015 Ford Taurus that was traveling in the opposite direction.

Due to the severity of the crash, two Mercyhealth REACT medical helicopters were summoned and landed at the scene. McNamara, who was seriously injured, was airlifted to Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital – Riverside in Rockford for treatment. Sadly, Dejan Kuljanin, a 21-year-old student from Rockford, who was driving the Ford Taurus, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein. An autopsy later confirmed that Kuljanin’s cause of death was blunt force trauma resulting from the crash.

Prior to the upgraded charges, McNamara had initially been charged in October with a Class A misdemeanor for driving under the influence. However, further investigation revealed that he had been operating the vehicle under the influence of both alcohol and drugs at the time of the crash.

The driver of the Lincoln, a 28-year-old woman from Rockford, and her 34-year-old passenger, were treated at the scene for their injuries and subsequently released.

Dejan Kuljanin, the victim of this tragic incident, was a fourth-year student at Rockford University. He was pursuing a degree in elementary education and had earned a full-ride scholarship. Additionally, he was enrolled in the university’s Master’s program, with aspirations of becoming a teacher within the Rockford Public School District. Described as a compassionate individual with a fervent desire to assist both children and the elderly, Kuljanin had plans to pursue a nursing career alongside his teaching endeavors.

In an obituary for Kuljanin, his family stated, “In Dejan’s young life, he had accomplished so much… Dejan was the epitome of what any good person strives to become. Many friends and family leaned on him for advice, support, and encouragement. Dejan’s young, kind, and generous heart will be sorely missed by numerous other relatives and dear friends in the USA, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and worldwide.”

Following the upgraded charges, McNamara was taken into custody on Thursday. Prosecutors have filed a petition to detain him pending trial, citing him as a real and present danger to the community. McNamara is scheduled to appear in court on Friday afternoon.

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