An elderly couple was transported to the hospital and their two dogs were safe after a car slammed into a utility pole, snapping it in half, on Route 45 near Gurnee.
The Gurnee Fire Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday to Route 45 and Rollins Road in unincorporated Gurnee for a report of a vehicle crash.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said an elderly man was driving a 2022 Chevrolet Blazer.
The Chevrolet was traveling southbound on Route 45 south of Rollins Road.
The driver failed to negotiate the curve south of Rollins Road on Route 45 and struck several signs, Covelli said.
The Chevrolet then struck a utility pole, which became severed in half.
The Chevrolet sustained heavy front-end damage. No other vehicles were involved.
Electrical wires were a safety issue and ComEd was called to the scene. Two ambulances were also called to the scene.
The driver, who is from Gurnee, and his passenger, his elderly wife, were both transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.
Southbound Route 45 was shut down by deputies until ComEd rendered the power lines safe.
Two dogs were rescued from the damaged car and safely transported home by sheriff’s deputies.