UPDATE: 20-Year-Old Auroran Drowns After Car Rolls Into Forest Preserve Lake
UPDATE: 4 PM FRIDAY, NOV. 13, 2015
At around 9 a.m. Thursday, the Kane County Coroner’s Office staff responded to the Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora for a report of a 20-year-old male who was an apparent drowning victim. The deceased was identified as Rafael Eulogio.
An autopsy was performed Friday, Nov. 13, 2015, at the Kane County morgue, with the preliminary cause of death being “drowning.”
Toxicology samples were collected and sent to a forensic lab.
The Kane County Coroner’s Office is cooperating with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County staff in their ongoing investigation of this incident.
SOURCE: Kane County Coroner’s Office press release
UPDATE 4:50 PM THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 2015
Police Release Victim’s Name in Oakhurst Forest Preserve Death Investigation
Police from the Forest Preserve District of Kane County have released the name of an apparent drowning victim, following a Nov. 12 accident at Oakhurst Forest Preserve in Aurora.
Rafael Eulogio, 20, of Aurora died after the car in which he was a passenger rolled into Lake Patterson, within Oakhurst Forest Preserve. Eulogio and Jesus Favela, 18, also of Aurora, reportedly drove near the water to look at the lake.
The two men thought the car was in park when it rolled into the water, a Forest Preserve District of Kane County press release said.
Favela was able to exit the car before it was submerged. Eulogio was not able to escape. Favela then flagged down a passing motorist, who called 911.
The original call came in at 8:03 a.m. about a vehicle in the water at Oakhurst with a person trapped inside. The Aurora Fire Department, Aurora Police Department and Forest Preserve District Police responded. The Aurora Fire Department’s first diver was in the water at 8:16 a.m. At 8:18 a.m., they located the victim.
Eulogio was transported to Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, where he was later pronounced dead. Favela was also transported to Rush-Copley Medical Center. He was treated and then arrested for driving under the influence. He’s currently being held in the Kane County Jail awaiting bond.
Divers also located the Ford Explorer, which has since been removed from Lake Patterson. Work is being done to clean up the oil and other chemicals in the lake, as a result of the accident.
After a brief closure, Oakhurst Forest Preserve (1680 Fifth Ave., Aurora) reopened to the public, this morning.
Forest Preserve District police are still investigating.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE POSTED AT 1:09 PM THURSDAY, NOV. 12
Police Conducting Death Investigation at Oakhurst Forest Preserve in Aurora
Police from the Forest Preserve District of Kane County are conducting a death investigation at Oakhurst Forest Preserve, following an accident this morning (Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015) at the Aurora forest preserve.At 8:03 a.m., the Aurora Fire Department received a call regarding a vehicle in the water at Oakhurst Forest Preserve, with a person trapped inside.
Two males from Aurora, one age 18, the other age 20 were originally inside the vehicle. They reportedly drove down near the water to watch the waves on Lake Patterson. They thought the car was in park when it rolled into the water. The driver was able to exit the car before it was submerged in the lake. The passenger was not able to escape. The driver then flagged down a passing motorist, who called 911.
The Aurora Fire Department, Aurora Police Department and Forest Preserve District Police were on scene shortly after 8 a.m., and the first diver was in the water at 8:16 a.m. At 8:18 a.m., they found the victim. He was transported to Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, where he was later pronounced dead. The driver of the vehicle was also transported. The Forest Preserve District did not have information on his condition at the time of the press release.The vehicle has been removed from Lake Patterson. Work is being done to clean up the oil and other chemicals in the lake as a result of the accident.Oakhurst Forest Preserve (1680 Fifth Ave., Aurora) is back open to the public. Forest Preserve District police are currently investigating.SOURCE: Kane County Forest Preserve District press release
About the Kane County Forest Preserve District
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County acquires, holds and maintains land to preserve natural and historic resources, habitats, flora and fauna. The district restores, restocks, protects and preserves open space for the education, recreation and pleasure of Kane County citizens. For more information, visit the district’s website or find them on social media via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Also, sign up for the quarterly TreeLine Newsletter.
About the Kane County Forest Preserve District’s Public Safety Department
This department’s function is to provide protection of facilities, natural resources and citizen users; deter occurrences of crime and provide a safe and recreational environment for citizens through pro-active enforcement and education efforts; provide security for such events as Kane County Cougars games as well as other District special events.
SOURCE: Forest Preserve District of Kane County, Kane County Coroner press releases
