The weather service reports that Lake and McHenry counties saw the highest snowfall totals in the northern Illinois area during a two-day snow event this week, which led to many vehicle crashes.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said Saturday that a clipper system brought periods of accumulating snow to northern Illinois starting Thursday evening and through the morning on Friday.
A band of lake effect snow then developed in its wake and produced another one to three inches of snow in northwest Indiana.
The NWS said the highest snowfall totals reported were in Lake County and McHenry County.
Lake Villa reported five inches, Harvard reported five inches, Woodstock reported 4.3 inches and O’Hare Airport reported 2.2 inches.
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 continued cleanup efforts Friday morning.