On Saturday, September 30, a fatal boat crash occurred along the Fox River in McHenry, Illinois.
The speeding motorboat lost control, veered off the river, and collided with a nearby home. The impact severed the boat into two separate sections.
Surveillance videos captured the boat’s path, racing toward the shoreline. After making landfall, it continued for 73 feet on land before colliding with the house, which suffered minor damage.
The couple aboard the vessel, Julie and Timothy Mertins, were impacted immediately. Sixty-one year-old Julie Mertins suffered severe blunt-force injuries from the crash and was declared dead on the scene. Timothy Mertins, her 62-year-old husband, survived the impact but was in critical condition when airlifted to a medical facility. He later died during surgery. Both deaths were attributed to blunt force trauma.
The couple’s death occurred just one month before their 33rd wedding anniversary. They were known for their inseparable bond, partaking in activities together.
The exact cause of the incident remains under investigation, but initial eyewitness accounts suggest that the boat was traveling at high speed. Authorities are still waiting for the results of toxicology reports, which might provide further insights into the incident.
