New Lenox Man, 83, Dies Days After Head-On Crash: Coroner

NEW LENOX, IL — An 83-year-old New Lenox man died Monday, days after a crash at Laraway and Nelson roads, the Will County Coroner’s Office said.

Charles Dircks was taken to Silver Cross Hospital following the May 31 crash. He died June 2, at 6:03 p.m., the coroner’s office said.

Police were called to the scene May 31 at 2:15 p.m., for a crash involving a Mini Cooper and a Mercedes-Benz Postal Service van, police said. The Mini Cooper had been southbound on Nelson Road, and the van northbound. A preliminary investigation revealed that the Mini Cooper, driven by Dircks, crossed over into the northbound lane. The vehicles collided at a nearly head-on angle, police said.

Dircks was found unresponsive and slumped over in his seat, according to police.

At this time, there is no indication that any criminal behavior and/or impairment was a contributing factor to the traffic crash, police said.

The crash is still under review by the Lincoln-Way Crash Reconstruction Team, which consists of officers trained in accident reconstruction from the New Lenox, Frankfort, and Mokena Police Departments.