A wrong-way driver died after causing a five-vehicle crash in Crystal Lake Sunday afternoon that left several others injured, police said.
The Crystal Lake Police Department and Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department responded around 1:51 p.m. Sunday to Rakow Road east of Pyott Road for a report of a crash with injuries.
Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Thomas Kotlowski said that officers located five vehicles involved in the crash with several people injured.
Three adult victims were transported by ambulances to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Two additional adult victim declined transport to a hospital.
Kotlowski said that an initial investigation determined a 2019 Honda CR-V was travelling westbound on Rakow Road from Munshaw Lane in the eastbound lanes of Rakow Road.
The 2019 Honda CR-V struck a 2004 Honda CR-V EX and a 2012 Ford Fusion, which were both travelling eastbound on Rakow Road.
The 2019 Honda CR-V continued westbound in the eastbound lanes colliding head-on with a 2017 Buick Enclave and causing another collision with a 2011 Nissan Versa.
The Buick and Nissan were both travelling eastbound on Rakow Road as well.
The adult driver and sole occupant of the 2019 Honda CR-V was pronounced dead at the scene, Kotlowski said.
Portions of Rakow Road were closed for nearly four hours while accident investigators were at the scene. The roadway has since been reopened.