Man Who Died in Drowning at Kane Co. Forest Preserve Lake Identified

Photo credit: Forest Preserve District of Kane County Photo caption: Oakhurst Forest Preserve in Aurora

The coroner has identified the 20-year-old Aurora man who died when the car he was in rolled into a Kane County forest preserve lake on Thursday as Rafael Eulogio.

A preliminary cause of death for Eulogio was drowning, according to a coroner’s office press release. Toxicology reports were collected and have been sent to a forensic lab.

The Forest Preserve District of Kane County and coroner’s office is investigating the incident, which took place shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday at the Oakhurst Forest Preserve, 1680 Fifth Ave. in Aurora. Eulogio and Jesus Favela, 18, also of Aurora, were inside the vehicle when they reportedly drove down near the water to watch the waves, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Forest preserve district officials said the two thought the car was in park when it rolled into the water. The driver was able to get out of the car before it became submerged but the passenger was not able to escape. The driver flagged down a motorist who then called 911.

Divers were in the water by 8:16 and found the victim shortly after. Eulogio was taken to Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora where he was later pronounced dead. The driver of the vehicle was also transported but his condition was not immediately available.

The vehicle has been removed from Lake Patterson and the forest preserve remains open to the public.