Highland Park’s John Kezdy — singer for The Effigies — dies 3 days after crash into delivery van

A bicyclist who crashed into a parked delivery van Wednesday has died, according to Village of Glencoe Public Safety.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office identified the deceased as John F. Kezdy, 64, of Highland Park, and the frontman of the influential 1980s and ’90s punk band The Effigies.

Kezdy, a graduate of Evanston Township High School, became an attorney who worked in the state’s attorney’s office as well as the state attorney general’s office, according to public documents.

Kezdy suffered critical injuries around 4:15 p.m. Aug. 23 when he reportedly struck the rear of an Amazon van parked near the curb on Sheridan Road just north of South Avenue in Glencoe.

Glencoe Deputy Chief Andrew Perley said the driver of the van remained on the scene and cooperated with investigators.

In that area, Sheridan Road has bicycle lanes on either edge of the roadway. Perley said certain vehicles are permitted to temporarily park in the bike lanes. Exactly where the truck was parked remains under investigation, Perley said.

Local first-responders, with assistance from the region’s Major Crash Assistance Team, responded to the scene, which was cordoned off for about four hours. The bicyclist was treated on site with life-saving measures, according to the Village. The incident remains under investigation.

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