Cause Unclear In Fatal Elmhurst Crash

ELMHURST, IL — A man who was believed to be going out for food and coming back home died April 24 after getting into a crash in Elmhurst, according to a police report. Anthony C. Gemein, 32, of Melrose Park, was pronounced dead shortly afterward at Loyola University Medical Center.

The police report, obtained by Elmhurst Patch through a public records request, does not indicate the cause of the crash. But a witness told officers that Gemein struck an unknown object while traveling east on Grand Avenue, near County Line Road, about 10:30 a.m. According to the report, two drivers heading west on Grand swerved as Gemein veered into oncoming traffic.

One witness said he saw Gemein's car skidding, then coming to a stop after the crash, according to the report. That witness tried to perform CPR on the trapped Gemein because the victim was unconscious, the report said. One of the witnesses said he saw the car smoking from either the engine or tires before the crash.

Police contacted Gemein's father, who told them his son had just left to get food and was planning to come back home.

After Gemein was removed from the car, an officer said he found an unsealed plastic Jim Beam bottle on the front passenger seat, according to the report. Only a small amount was missing, the report said.