From the Coroner:
McHenry County Coroner, Dr. Michael Rein, announced that his office was contacted on October 27, 2025, at around 9 pm by McHenry County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the death of Dante Rico Cruz, age 42 currently living in Hebron.
The decedent was apparently trying to help a farmer that had hit a power line around the 4300 block of County Line Rd. in Garden Prairie.
Mr. Rico Cruz appeared to have touched the combine that the wire was touching at the time.
An autopsy will be performed on Friday October 31, 2025.
The Coroner’s Office is continuing to work collaboratively with McHenry County Sheriff and Boone County Fire Department during this investigation.
From the Sheriff:
Sheriff’s Office Investigates Fatal Farm Incident
A 38-year-old Woodstock man died after being electrocuted during a farm incident on County Line Road south of Jackson Road in unincorporated McHenry County.
On Monday, October 27, 2025, at approximately 5:17 p.m., the Boone County Fire Protection District Two responded to a report of farm equipment that struck a power line in the ditch along County Line Road, south of Jackson Road.
It was later determined the incident occurred within McHenry County, and McHenry County Sheriff’s deputies were requested at approximately 5:31 p.m.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a 56-year-old male from Hebron was operating a John Deere 9520RX tractor pulling a Brent 2096 grain cart.
The farm equipment was positioned in the ditch area adjacent to the roadway and was attempting to offload grain into a semi-truck parked on the road.
During the process, the grain cart’s Avalanche grain chute made contact with the overhead power lines, causing them to come down.
The energized power lines came into contact with the John Deere tractor.
A 38-year-old man from Woodstock, who was operating the semi-truck, attempted to approach and board the tractor and was electrocuted.
He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The tractor operator was transported to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, where he was listed in fair condition.
Representatives from ComEd responded to the scene to address the downed power lines and investigate the incident.
The incident remains under investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Crash Investigation Unit and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office.
