Fatal Motorcycle Crash Near Sheridan And Lake Cook In Glencoe

GLENCOE, IL — Glencoe's Public Safety Department continues to investigate a traffic crash that occurred early Thursday morning near the intersection of Sheridan and Lake Cook roads. Officers responded to a single vehicle crash involving a motorcycle just before 7 a.m. The driver of the motorcycle was already dead when emergency personnel arrived, authorities said.

The biker was identified as 29-year-old George Berdebes of Bourbannais, according to Glencoe Deputy Chief Richard Weiner.

The preliminary investigation suggested that the crash took place earlier Tuesday morning, according to Weiner. He said it appeared that Berdebes was travelling with a group of other motorcyclists in the area, which was witnessed by a Glencoe officer on regular patrol.

Around 1:45 a.m., the officer tried unsuccessfully to initiate a traffic stop on the motorcyclists, who increased speed and refused to pull over, Weiner said.

The Major Crash Assistance Team is assisting Glencoe Public Safety staff in the investigation of the crash, a village spokesperson said. Weiner said more information will be available at the completion of the investigation in several weeks. (Get the latest updates on the story and Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Glencoe, Winnetka — or your Illinois community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Village officials Thursday morning asked that those travelling in the vicinity of the incident find an alternate route. People attending Rosh Hashanah services at North Shore Congregation Israel coming from the north were advised to take Green Bay Road to Maple Hill or Park Avenue, to Sheridan Road, while people approaching Glencoe from the south will not be affected by the investigation, according to the village.

» View a detour map.

_{Top photo via Patch archive}