18-year-old bicyclist fatally struck by van in Woodstock

An 18-year-old bicyclist was fatally struck by a van while he was riding Sunday night in northwest suburban Woodstock.

Christopher J. Michols was riding a Huffy Edge 10-speed mountain bike about 7:39 p.m., crossing Route 14 at Kishwaukee Valley Road in Woodstock when he was struck by a 2004 Chevrolet Express 2500 van that was southbound on Route 14, according to Woodstock police and the McHenry County coroner’s office.

Witnesses told investigators the bicyclist tried to cross Route 14 against a red light. The rider was not wearing helmet; the bicycle was not lighted; and he was wearing dark clothing, police said.

Michols, formerly of Cary, was taken to Centegra Woodstock Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:29 p.m., according to the coroner’s office. An autopsy showed he died of multiple blunt force injuries to the head, chest and abdomen.

Route 14 was closed to traffic between Dean Street and Route 120 until about 1 a.m., police said.

The Major Crash Investigation Team is investigating. Neither alcohol or drugs are thought to have been a factor, and no charges have been filed as of Monday afternoon.