Worker Under Influence Of Cocaine In Fatal Skid Steer Incident: Police

LAKE COUNTY, IL — Charges have been filed in connection with a fatality involving a skid steer in Gurnee, which happened last fall.

Michael Vazquez, 39, of Oak Forest, has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence involving death in connection with allegations he was under the influence of cocaine when he drove over Gregory Bolls of Chicago at around 7 a.m. on Oct. 18, 2024, police said.

Bolls, a construction worker, died from blunt force injuries as a result of the incident, according to a news release from the Lake County Coroner's Office. He had been contracted to complete work at an Illinois Tollway Authority maintenance building near the Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee when he appeared to walk in front of the miniature bulldozer and was run over, according to media reports.

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Both Vazquez and Rolls were contracted employers who were working to lay asphalt in the area, according to news release from Illinois State Police. Vazquez was driving a skid steer when he backed up and ran over Bolls of Chicago.

Bolls was taken to an area hospital and later died of his injuries.

An investigation into the incident revealed Vazquez had cocaine in his system at the time of the collision. A warrant was issued for his arrest this past week and on Thursday, Vazquez surrendered himself to the Lake County Jail.