Driver Killed After Swerving To Avoid Bird In Road: Police

KANE COUNTY, IL — A 20-year-old Burlington man is dead after he swerved to avoid hitting a bird in the roadway west of Elgin and lost control of his car, causing it to roll over several times, authorities said Thursday. Aaron Beason, of the 400 block of French Road in Burlington, was behind the wheel of the 2004 Chebrolet Impala at about 12:35 a.m. Thursday, heading east on Plank Road between Switzer Road and Russell Road in unincorporated Plato at the time of the one-car collision. An investigation by the Kane County Sheriff's Office revealed he swerved to try to avoid hitting "a large bird or duck that was in the road," according to a news release.

Beason was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, authorities said. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Elgin, where he was pronounced dead.

His roommate, Semaj Jackson, 20, was riding as a passenger in the car and was wearing his seat belt at the time of the collision. He was not ejected and was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital with minor injuries, according to a news release.

Plank Road was closed between Switzer Road and Russell Road for about three hours as authorities investigated the crash, according to police. The collision remains under investigation by sheriff's office detectives and the Kane County Accident Reconstruction team.