Man critically injured when pickup rolls over near Harvard

A man was hospitalized with critical injuries after a single-vehicle rollover crash Friday evening near Harvard.

The Harvard Fire Protection District responded about 6 p.m. Friday to the crash in the 9500 block of Route 14, District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said. First responders found a heavily damaged pickup truck on its side, with debris scattered across the front yard of a home, Vucha said.

Emergency crews found the man outside his vehicle, from which he apparently was ejected in the crash. Paramedics began lifesaving measures alongside the emergency physician response unit MD-1.

Officials initially requested a medical helicopter, but poor visibility because of rain and heavy fog prevented the helicopter from responding, Vucha said. The man was taken to Javon Bea Hospital-Riverside in Rockford with critical injuries, Vucha said.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash and Route 14 remained closed in both directions for several hours.