7-06-2022 4:35pm

Extrication from two-vehicle collision on Fourth of July west of Rockton

Michael McGinnis Editor

After 11 minutes, one passenger was extricated and transported by Life Flight helicopter in critical condition.

This story was updated Thursday afternoon with additional details from the

In a July 4 collision near Rockton, a 25-year-old man was killed, another critically injured, at the intersection of N. Meridian Road and Freeport Road, one mile east of Harrison. Rockton Fire Protection District and Shirland Fire Department were dispatched to the scene at 9:58 p.m. prepared for a possible extrication. They found a Ford F-250 truck in the nearby corn field and a heavily-damaged Kia Optima on its side, with two subjects trapped inside.

Within 11 minutes, the rescue companies were able to remove the passenger, who was in critical condition, to be transported by Life Flight Network helicopter to a local hospital.

UPDATED: The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. On Wednesday, the Winnebago County Coroner’s Office identified him as Tristan Clay of Rockford. According to WTVO, police say Clay drove southbound through the stop sign at Freeport Road before the westbound pickup collided with him, towing a trailer full of gravel. The driver of the truck was not injured.

In addition, the local rescue companies were assisted by Durand Ambulance and Mercy MD-1, a physician-staffed response vehicle. The Winnebago County Sheriff's Department is still investigated the accident.