Two good Samaritans rescued a seriously injured woman from a burning vehicle after it struck a tree on Route 176 near Crystal Lake, police said.
The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department, Crystal Lake Police Department, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Prairie Grove Police Department responded around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday to Route 176 east of Route 31 on the border of Crystal Lake and Prairie Grove for a vehicle crash.
Prairie Grove Chief of Police Michael Goins told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that two vehicles were traveling eastbound on Route 176.
The two vehicles collided as the roadway merged from two lanes into one lane in the 4300 block of Route 176.
The collision caused one of the vehicles to lose control and veer off the right side of the roadway, Goins said.
The vehicle sustained major damage and caught on fire.
Goins said the driver of the vehicle, a woman in her 50s, could not walk due to her injuries.
Two people driving by stopped to assist and rescued the woman from her burning vehicle.
They pulled her away from the car before it became fully engulfed in flames, Goins said.
A medical helicopter was initially requested but it could not fly due to the weather conditions.
The woman was transported to the hospital by ambulance with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Goins said the second vehicle involved in the crash sustained minor damage and the driver was not injured.
Eastbound Route 176 was temporarily shut down while emergency crews responded to the scene.