Man, 73, dies in head-on collision near Lake Villa

LAKE VILLA – A 73-year-old Ingleside man was killed in a head-on collision near Lake Villa that left the other driver in critical condition, police said.

About 9:50 p.m. Feb. 3, Lake County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Route 59 south of Route 132 for a head-on traffic crash, according to a news release.

Sheriff’s deputies found a GMC Acadia and Kia Sorento with major damage.

Preliminary investigation shows the GMC, driven by a 74-year-old man of unincorporated Lake Villa, was traveling north on Route 59. For an unknown reason, the driver of the GMC veered into the southbound lanes of traffic, police said. The GMC struck the Kia, driven by 73-year-old George Giannakakis of Ingleside, head-on. Witnesses reported the GMC was swerving prior to the crash.

Both drivers were taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with critical injuries. Giannakakis was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Impairment appears to be a factor in the crash, police said.

On Feb. 6, an autopsy was completed at the Lake County Coroner’s Office. Autopsy results indicate Giannakakis died from blunt force injuries as a result of the crash.

The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Team.