'A friend and mentor to many': Lake in the Hills butcher shop owner fatally struck by multiple vehicles in Kane County

KANE COUNTY, Ill. — The owner of a northwest suburban butcher shop was killed early Monday morning after he was hit by multiple cars in Dundee Township.

Deputies from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office said they were initially called to the scene near the intersection of Illinois Route 31 and Miller Road in Dundee Township just before 6 a.m. following reports of multiple vehicles hitting a pedestrian in the area.

Deputies arrived on the scene and found the victim, a 69-year-old man, severely injured.

The victim, who was later identified as Thomas Yucuis, an East Dundee resident, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Authorities notified the Kane County Coroner’s Office about the incident, and the victim’s remains were taken to the morgue for further investigation.

According to deputies, the victim’s preliminary cause of death was listed as “multiple injuries due to pedestrian vs. motor vehicle mishap.”

In a statement shared on Thursday, a spokesperson for the Kane County Sheriff’s Office expressed sympathy for the family of the victim.

“The Kane County Coroner’s Office expresses its deepest sympathies to Mr. Yucuis’s family during this difficult time and is deeply saddened by their loss,” a spokesperson said.

Currently, it is unclear what led to the crashes and deputies said toxicology samples were collected and are undergoing analysis at a forensic laboratory.

Yucuis was the owner of the popular butcher shop “Butcher on the Block” located Lake in the Hills.

Yucuis’s wife and daughter announced his death in a post shared on the business’s Facebook page late Wednesday night.

“Tom was not only an incredible leader, but also a friend and mentor to many. His dedication, passion, and warmth shaped the foundation of this business, and his memory will forever be a part of our journey,” the post read in part.

Butcher on the Block, a gourmet meat and deli market, opened in 2000 and expanded to three locations in 2015.

According to the post shared Wednesday, the shop will remain open, but store hours may change on Friday and Saturday to accommodate funeral services for Yucuis.

“Our team remains committed to upholding the values and spirit that Tom instilled in us. Please know that we are here to continue serving you with the same care and commitment that Tom always strived for and trained his team to do the same. Brynn (his daughter) and Jill (his wife) will continue to honor him as the faces of Butcher on the Block,” the post read.