A 27-year-old Rockford woman was killed and a 24-year-old Marengo man was critically injured following a crash caused by distracted driving in unincorporated Union Wednesday evening.

The Marengo and Union Fire Protection Districts and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office were called at 9:39 p.m. to the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Route 176 east of Union Road in unincorporated Union.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said that a 2005 Honda Civic, driven by a 27-year-old woman from Rockford, was driving westbound on Route 176. It then veered into the oncoming lane of traffic where it crashed into an eastbound 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by a 24-year-old man from Marengo.

The driver of the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Jeep was transported by Marengo paramedics to Centegra Hospital-Huntley. He was later transferred to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where he remains in critical but stable condition.

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The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said that both drivers were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash and that cell phone use was a contributing factor in the crash. It is unknown yet if alcohol or drugs were also factors.

The crash is under investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Crash Investigation Unit and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office.