Cops: Drunken motorcyclist critically hurt in NW suburban crash

Authorities say a 46-year-old motorcyclist was drunk when he rear-ended another Harley-Davidson Sunday evening near northwest suburban Island Lake, causing a crash that left himself critically injured and his passenger hospitalized.

John F. Hicks was driving with a 38-year-old woman as passenger southbound on Roberts Road near Lamphere in unincorporated Island Lake when he drove into the back of another motorcycle in front of him, according to the McHenry County sheriff’s office.

Hicks was taken in critical condition to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, along with his passenger, who was treated and released, police said. The other motorcyclist, a 45-year-old man, was not hurt.

None of them were wearing helmets, and alcohol factored into the crash, police said.

Hicks, a Waukegan resident, was charged with a misdemeanor count of DUI and cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.