A missing Wisconsin man died in a Chicago-area crash, it has been revealed.
Ben Oberto, 45, had vanished Wednesday night, last seen leaving a restaurant in Crystal Lake just before 9pm on Wednesday.
The wine seller had been in town for a work appointment, and he had told his wife over the phone how he would be home in time to put their son to bed.
However, that was not the case – and he never showed up. A massive interstate search ensued – one lasting more than 60 hours.
Police managed to track the man’s phone to Rosemont, where he was found Friday morning.
There, troopers from the New Berlin Police Department, with help from Illinois State Police, pulled the dad-of-two from an overturned Subaru Impreza found submerged in a local creek.
Once retrieved, the body was positively identified as Oberto.
As it stands, the wine representative’s car appears to be the only one involved, as Oberto’s wife issued a statement explaining what she and police who probed the man’s last moments believe had happened.
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Ben Oberto, 45, vanished Wednesday night, last seen leaving a restaurant in Crystal Lake, Illinois, just before 9pm on Wednesday. The wine rep is seen here with his wife Laura Leatherberry and son, who are from New Berlin, Wisconsin
Police managed to track the man’s phone to Rosemont in Chicago, where he was found Friday. There, troopers from the New Berlin Police Department with help from Illinois State Police pulled the dad-of-one from an overturned Subaru Impreza submerged in a local creek
‘The news I have to share is not what any of us want to hear,’ wrote 38-year-old New Berlin resident Laura Leatherberry in a post to Facebook.
‘Early this morning, we received confirmation that Ben’s car and body were found.’
She went on to recount: ‘On Wednesday, November 13th, at approximately 9:47 pm, Ben’s car left the freeway as he navigated a challenging turn towards home on a dark, rainy, and foggy night.
‘He did not survive the accident,’ she added.
Statements from police said more of the same, with both the New Berlin Police and Illinois State Police confirming Oberto died after his vehicle veered off the ‘challenging’ stretch of freeway his wife had been referring to.
The road in question, the I-90 eastbound ramp to I-294 northbound near Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, has a pronounced curve, photos show.
The crash is currently under investigation, cops in Illinois said – with all departments involved categorizing it as a ‘single-vehicle accident.’
The car is believed to have overturned at the bottom of the embankment, before going over the median and ending up submerged in the creek below.
The dad-of-two died while making a ‘challenging’ turn on the freeway, while on his way home to his family
Cops were seen at the scene late Friday – as divers worked relentlessly to retrieve the body.
Leatherberry, in turn, wrote hours later: ‘I don’t yet have the words to truly express the deep sorrow I’m experiencing, but you deserve to know the truth and not wait in agony anymore.
‘These past 60+ hours of searching, wondering, and fighting to find my husband has been excruciating, but the overwhelming love and support from our family, friends, and community has helped me through this,’ she continued.
‘Together, we will get through this too.’
She and cops were able to piece together his final moments thanks to combination of information garnered from tolls and data from his iPhone that pinged him in Rosemont near the airport.
Officers went on to discern the traveling salesmen never got on any flights, and that his phone had gone dead.
Police proceeded to sweep the area only to find no signs of Oberto – nor his car, his phone, or any reports of his body being brought to a local morgue or hospital.
A father of two, Oberto is now being remembered by his family and those who knew him
She and cops were able to piece together the wine rep’s final moments thanks to combination of information garnered from tolls and data from his iPhone that pinged him near O’Hare airport
Officers went on to discern the traveling wine salesmen – who worked for an importer based in New York City – never got on any flights, and that his phone had gone dead. He was found not far away, his car submerged in the creek
Eventually, more than two days into the search, cops came across the submerged Subaru.
‘Ben was not just my husband; he was a loving father, a cherished son, a caring brother, and a true friend to so many,’ Leatherberry wrote, after being interviewed by stations such as CBS News as officers looking into her spouse’s disappearance.
‘His vibrant spirit, loving heart, and unmatched generosity left an indelible mark on every life he touched.
‘As we mourn this profound loss, let us also celebrate the love and joy he brought into our lives.
‘Thank you from the depths of my heart for your support and kindness during this unimaginably difficult time.’
Oberto’s company, New York City-based wine importer Massanois LLC, also issued a statement in response to his passing.
‘Ben was not just my husband; he was a loving father, a cherished son, a caring brother, and a true friend to so many,’ Leatherberry said after being interviewed by CBS News during the search. ‘His vibrant spirit, loving heart, and unmatched generosity left an indelible mark’
‘It is with a heavy heart that we write to inform you that Ben Oberto, while driving home to his family, passed away in a tragic car accident on Wednesday, November 13th,’ it read.
‘Our hearts go out to his wife, Laura; his children Collette and Augie; and his immediate family.
‘Ben’s levity, kindness, and enthusiasm will be dearly missed by his friends and colleagues.
‘We look forward to gathering to celebrate Ben’s life together, with both tears and laughter, as we mourn his loss.’