The general area of the 1100 block of Dundee Avenue. (CREDIT: Google Maps)

The Kane County Coroner’s Office’s preliminary findings indicate the off-duty Cook County sheriff’s officer killed Sunday in a single-car crash in Elgin died of an event related to heart disease.

According to a Wednesday (Jan. 8, 2020) news release from Kane County Coroner Rob Russell, 49-year-old Gary Newsom’s death was caused by “coronary atherosclerosis.”

According to WebMD, atherosclerosis — sometimes called hardening of the arteries — can slowly narrow the arteries throughout your body. Most of those deaths are from heart attacks caused by blood clots.

WebMD says coronary artery disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans.

Elgin police reported Monday via Facebook that Newsome was killed shortly before 4:49 p.m. Sunday in a single-car crash on Dundee Avenue.

The preliminary investigation indicated that the vehicle drove south across northbound lanes, striking a utility pole and ultimately coming to rest in the 1100 block of Dundee Avenue (IL Route 25). A passenger of the vehicle was uninjured, police said.

The 1100 block of Dundee Avenue. (CREDIT: Google Maps)

Newsom was pronounced deceased at Advocate Sherman Hospital, then transported to the Kane County morgue, where an autopsy was performed on Wednesday.

“The results of the autopsy revealed a significant amount of blockages in the arteries of Sgt. Newsom’s heart, which can cause sudden death,” Russell said in the report.

Toxicology samples were sent to a forensic lab for further analysis.

“The Kane County Coroner’s Office offers condolences to the family of Sgt. Newsom and to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for their loss and is cooperating with Elgin Police Department in the investigation,” Russell said.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office released a statement about the incident late Sunday evening, saying the crash was caused by a medical emergency:

“The Cook County Sheriff’s Office was notified that an off-duty Sheriff’s Police sergeant suffered a fatal medical emergency in Elgin on Sunday, Jan. 5. We understand the Elgin Police Department responded to the incident and are referring any additional questions to that agency at this time. We are shaken by this loss and our hearts go out to his family.”

SOURCE: Elgin Police Department Facebook page