Icy roads lead to collision, Wauconda cop injured

December 4, 2009

Sun-Times Media Wire

A Wauconda police officer investigating a traffic crash suffered traumatic leg injuries when he was hit by another vehicle that apparently slipped on the icy road Thursday afternoon in northwest suburban Wauconda.

At 5:12 p.m., police officer Jim McClain was responding to an auto accident on U.S. 12 at the Illinois 176 overpass when a second collision occurred, according to a Wauconda Police Department release.

As McClain walked to the second collision, a vehicle driven by a Lake Zurich resident lost control due to what investigators believe were "icy surface conditions," first hitting a guard rail and then striking McClain.

McClain, who is a three-year veteran of the force, was thrown into the grassy median and suffered "traumatic injuries to both legs," the release said.

He was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. Doctors told police that McClain did not have any broken bones, but that he suffered major tears and lacerations which would require surgery, the release said.

Lake County Major Crash Assistance Teams closed the road for investigations from 5:12 to 9:45 p.m.

Police are not releasing the identity of the Lake Zurich motorist and charges were not expected until next week, the release said.

Information about the initial crash was not immediately known.