Snow led to slick conditions on roadways and resulted in numerous crashes reported across Lake and McHenry counties Thursday evening, authorities said.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a special weather statement for Lake and McHenry counties, along with other surrounding counties on Thursday.
The NWS warned that three waves of winter weather were expected through Friday.
The first wave involved a period of snow late Thursday afternoon into early Thursday evening.
The second wave involved snow showers affecting most of the area after 3 a.m. Friday continuing into the early and mid-morning hours.
Alex Vucha, a Public Information Officer for the Cary and Harvard fire districts, said two separate crashes occurred on Route 14 in McHenry County Thursday evening during the winter weather.
“While these incidents happened in different areas and involved separate fire districts, both highlight the hazardous conditions caused by the winter weather,” Vucha said.
The Harvard Fire Protection District responded around 7:30 p.m. to the 18700 block of Route 14 in unincorporated Harvard for a single-vehicle rollover crash.
Firefighters discovered a damaged vehicle that had left the roadway and rolled over, likely due to the snow-covered, slick pavement.
The sole occupant, an adult female driver, had managed to free herself from the overturned vehicle before firefighters arrived on the scene.
She was evaluated by paramedics but did not require transport to the hospital.
Firefighters ensured the area was safe before clearing the scene.
Less than an hour later, the Cary Fire Protection District responded around 8:27 p.m. to a two-vehicle, head-on collision near the intersection of Route 14 and Nimco Drive in Cary.
Firefighters arrived within minutes and found two vehicles with moderate damage.
One driver, an adult male, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington for further evaluation.
The second vehicle was occupied by two adults and two children, all of whom were evaluated at the scene but did not suffer injuries.
Westbound Route 14 was shut down for approximately 45 minutes while crews worked to clear the scene during the snowstorm.
“Roads remain very slick in areas, particularly in the western part of the county. More snow is excepted throughout the night and into the morning,” Vucha said late Thursday evening.
“Drivers are urged to reduce speeds, increase following distances, and avoid unnecessary travel,” he added.
In Lake County, numerous crashes involving injuries were also reported.
A jackknifed semi-truck completely shut down northbound Interstate 94 at Russell Road north of Wadsworth around 7 p.m.
In the same area, a car drove approximately 50 feet off of Interstate 94 near the state line.
The Gurnee Fire Department responded around 7:15 p.m. to a multiple-vehicle crash on westbound Washington Street at the Des Plaines River.
In Round Lake Beach, a car slid down a hill into a mailbox and a snow plow truck in the 400 block of Woodland Drive.
The Lake County Division of Transportation said that a full snowplow crew took to the roads Thursday and crews were continuing cleanup efforts Friday morning.
“The snow has become lighter and more intermittent across the area this morning. The weather service still has the possibility of lake-effect snow this afternoon which could produce ¼ to ½ inch of snow this afternoon. Temperatures drop into the teens overnight,” the department said.