The sheriff says a van rear-ended a stopped SUV, which resulted in a head-on crash that left a 19-year-old critically injured and two others seriously injured near Woodstock Tuesday.
The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 4:18 p.m. Tuesday to the 15200 block of Kishwaukee Valley Road in unincorporated Woodstock for a report of a vehicle crash.
Woodstock Fire/Rescue District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said 911 callers reported that a vehicle was smoking and the driver was trapped inside, prompting an upgraded response.
Firefighters arrived within six minutes and found a three-vehicle crash with heavy damage.
The sheriff’s office said the crash involved a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, a 2019 Honda CR-V and a 2000 Ford van.
A preliminary investigation showed the Chevrolet was stopped in the eastbound lane of Kishwaukee Valley Road waiting to make a left turn into a driveway.
The Ford van, which was also traveling eastbound, failed to stop and struck the left rear of the Chevrolet, sheriff’s officials said.
The Ford then entered the westbound lane where it struck the Honda, which was traveling westbound.
Vucha said an adult female driver was injured and trapped and two other people were also injured but not trapped in the wreckage.
An additional ambulance was requested from the Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts to assist due to the multiple victims.
Crews worked in coordination for nearly 30 minutes to extricate the adult female driver, Vucha said.
The woman, a 19-year-old from Poplar Grove, was trapped in the Ford van.
A medical helicopter was called and the woman was transferred by ambulance to the awaiting helicopter at Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital.
She was then airlifted to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, a Level 1 trauma center, with critical injuries, Vucha said. The sheriff’s office said she is currently listed in critical condition.
A 22-year-old Poplar Grove man, who was a passenger in the Ford, as well as the driver of the Honda, a 37-year-old Belvidere man, were transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital.
Vucha said the 22-year-old and 37-year-old were seriously injured. Sheriff’s officials said they are in good condition at the hospital.
The 62-year-old female driver of the Chevrolet was not injured.
“We appreciate the assistance provided by the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department, Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts, McHenry Township Fire Protection District, and Wonder Lake Fire Protection District,” Vucha said, adding that other calls for service were happening simultaneously in Woodstock’s fire district.
The crash remains under investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit.