Officials rule Glencoe bike crash that killed John Kedzy an accident

An investigation has found that a fatal bicycle crash in August was an accident, according to Andrew Perley, deputy chief of Glencoe Public Safety.

Highland Park resident John Kezdy, 64, died on Aug. 26, three days after he crashed his bicycle into the rear of a delivery van stopped on Sheridan Road just north of South Avenue. As it approaches South Avenue, Sheridan Road bends west before curving back north.

Perley said the county medical examiner reported this week that Kezdy died from injuries sustained during the crash and did not suffer a medical episode prior to the incident. After receiving the examiner’s report, Glencoe Public Safety ruled the crash an accident and closed its investigation.

“The cyclist was pedaling the whole time up until impact and did not appear to have awareness of the van in his way,” Perley said.

The delivery driver reportedly cooperated with authorities following the August crash.

At the scene of the crash, Sheridan Road features bike lanes on each side of the roadway that are separated by a solid white line. Perley said the delivery van was stopped legally on the side of the road disrupting the bike lane.

Vehicles are not allowed to park on Sheridan Road, according to Glencoe Village Code, which is mimicking state law Perley said. Perley added, however, that the definition for “parked” and “stopped” are different in state law and certain vehicles reportedly are allowed to make temporary stops with their hazard lights on when on a work-related visit, such as a delivery or emergency call.

Perley said police confirmed the delivery van’s hazards were activated and the driver was in the rear of the truck sorting packages for delivery at the time of the crash.

The Record‘s message to the Illinois Department of Transportation was not returned by press time.

Perley said Glencoe Public Safety periodically reviews intersection safety and has discussed incidents along Sheridan Road, but he said law changes must first happen at the state level.

Kedzy, who died following the crash, was the frontman of the influential 1980s and ’90s punk band The Effigies. He was a graduate of Evanston Township High School who became an attorney and worked in the state’s attorney’s office as well as the state attorney general’s office, according to public documents.

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Subscribe to The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a subscriber? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.