Waukegan residents and fellow service members are struggling to make sense of a tragic Monday evening when a young sailor’s life ended suddenly on a quiet stretch of South Lewis Avenue. Hayden Jones, 22, from Oklahoma and stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes, was killed when his car left the road, smashed through a fence and hit nearby trees. A fence pole went through his windshield and fatally struck him.
First responders were called to the 1100 block of South Lewis Avenue just after 6:30 p.m. Monday, where crews found Jones unresponsive in his vehicle. He was the only person in the car. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office confirmed Jones’ identity early Tuesday. He was an active member of the U.S. Military, serving at the Navy’s Great Lakes base, a key training station just south of Waukegan. Investigators say the car veered off the road for reasons still unknown.
An autopsy revealed that blunt force trauma to the head from the crash caused Jones’ death. Authorities say the fence post penetrated through the windshield, delivering the fatal blow. While the Major Crash Unit of the Waukegan Police Department is digging into what led up to the collision, no further details have yet been released.
This loss has hit hard in Oklahoma and at Great Lakes, where fellow sailors knew Jones as dedicated and full of promise. Friends describe him as the kind of person who showed up for others, whether in training exercises or while off duty.
For many in the Waukegan community, the shock of losing such a young life in an ordinary moment has stirred an outpouring of grief. Loved ones are sharing memories of Jones’ service, his humor, and the way he lit up conversations with stories from home.
As investigators continue their work, prayers and condolences are flowing from both his naval family and people across Lake County. Many are holding onto the hope that answers will come, even as they remember Jones for the life he lived and the service he gave.
