The sheriff says a driver is being sought after making an illegal U-turn, causing crashes involving seven vehicles which left a truck on top of another, on Route 120 near Gurnee.
The Gurnee Fire Department, Gurnee Police Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 4:20 p.m. Tuesday to Route 120 near Interstate 94 on the border of Gurnee and Libertyville for a report of a multi-vehicle crash.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said deputies arrived to find two separate crashes that occurred moments apart involving a total of seven vehicles.
Gurnee Fire Department Lt. Nick Perry said the incident occurred in the westbound lanes of Route 120 west of Interstate 94 near Hanlon Road.
Covelli said an unknown vehicle made an illegal U-turn from westbound Route 120 to travel eastbound on Route 120 in the area of Hanlon Road.
Traffic began to slow for the vehicle making the illegal maneuver.
The driver of a 2017 Lexus RX-350 failed to slow down and it collided with the rear of a slowed 2009 Honda Pilot.
Covelli said the force caused the 2009 Honda Pilot to be pushed into the rear of a 2016 Honda CR-V.
The 2016 Honda CR-V was pushed into a 2020 Honda Civic. The 2020 Honda Civic was then pushed into the rear of a Honda Ridgeline.
The driver of a westbound 2020 Chevrolet Colorado began rapidly braking for the first crash.
The driver of a 2023 Ford Maverick failed to stop and slammed into the rear of the Chevrolet.
The force drove the Ford underneath the Chevrolet, leaving the truck on top of the other.
Perry said three ambulances, including one from Grayslake, were called to the scene.
All of the occupants were able to get out of the vehicles on their own and were not trapped.
One vehicle sustained heavy damage while the other vehicles sustained minor to moderate damage.
The driver of the Lexus was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Covelli said.
Perry said the adult female suffered minor injuries and was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
One person occupied each of the seven cars and no other drivers were injured besides the woman.
Heavy traffic delays were reported and the road was shut down for approximately 30 minutes.
Tow trucks responded to the scene to remove four of the seven vehicles that were not driveable.
No citations have been issued yet and the driver who made the illegal U-turn is being sought.
The crashes remain under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.