Father Of Newborn Killed In Crash Was Planning To Bring Baby Home From Hospital That Day

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A 35-year-old Round Lake Beach man who was on his way to pick up the mother of his child before they went together to the hospital to bring their newborn home was hit and killed by a dump truck near Libertyville Friday afternoon, according to his family.

Dennis Lewis was riding his motorcycle at the time of the collision at Route 175 and Bradley Road in Green Oaks at about 2:35 p.m. Friday. His daughter, Harley, was born three days before the crash, according to a GoFundMe set up to help bring in funds for the family.

"Dennis was on his way home to pick up Amberly so the two of them could go bring their newborn daughter, Harley Rose, home from the hospital together — something he had been looking forward to with so much love and excitement," according to the GoFundMe.

Authorities said Lewis's motorcycle was headed west on Route 176 when a 2008 Peterbilt Semi, which was headed east on 176, began to turn left onto Bradley Road and pulled in front of the motorcycle.

Lewis' motorcycle crashed into the Peterbilt. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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A GoFundMe set up for Lewis's family is meant to raise funds to help pay for baby essentials, including diapers, formula and clothing; immediate living expenses for Amberly and Harley; and funds to help support Harley in the future.

Harley was Lewis's first child, and he had not yet gotten the chance to hold her, according to the GoFundMe.

"Dennis was a kind, hardworking, and loving man who had just stepped into fatherhood with so much hope and love in his heart," according to the GoFundMe.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate the collision. The driver of the dump truck, a 50-year-old McHenry man, is cooperating with investigators, police said following the crash.

"We will work with the state’s attorney’s office when the investigation concludes regarding charges," Christopher Covelli, deputy chief for the Lake County Sheriff's Office, told Patch Tuesday.