Genoa man, 79, dead after single-vehicle crash in DeKalb County

A 79-year-old Genoa man died on Christmas Eve after suffering a medical emergency and crashing his car into a ditch in Sycamore Township, authorities said.

Deputies were called to the area of Peace and Freed Road in Sycamore Township at 11:04 a.m. Sunday for a report that a vehicle had driven into a nearby ditch and the driver was unresponsive, according to a news release from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s office.

The man was later identified by the sheriff’s office as Wayne E. Winner, 79, of Genoa.

When they arrived at the site, sheriff’s deputies and paramedics from the Sycamore Fire Department removed Winner and attempted life-saving measures, according to the release. Winner was then taken to Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb where he was later pronounced dead.

The death was investigated by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s office and the DeKalb County Coroner’s office.

No foul play is suspected, authorities said.

This story was updated at 6 a.m. Monday, Dec. 25, 2023 with the identity of the deceased.