The coroner has released the identity of an elderly woman who died after a head-on crash during whiteout snow conditions in unincorporated McHenry County last month.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts and Union Fire Protection District responded around 9:26 a.m. on March 16 to North Union Road and Route 176 in Seneca Township, located east of Marengo and north of Union, for a vehicle crash with injuries.
Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said responding crews were informed that bystander CPR was in progress on one of the victims involved.
Firefighters arrived within minutes and found a two-vehicle crash with heavy damage and multiple injured victims.
The collision occurred along Route 176 approximately a half-mile east of the intersection.
The sheriff’s office said a preliminary investigation showed a 2007 Kia Sportage, driven by a 40-year-old Marengo man, was traveling eastbound on Route 176.
A 2016 Mazda CX-5, driven by a 64-year-old Crystal Lake man, was traveling westbound on Route 176.
The two cars were involved in a head-on crash, with both vehicles coming to rest on the roadway, the sheriff’s office said.
Vucha said the road was covered in snow with whiteout conditions at the time of the crash.
The call was upgraded through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) for additional ambulances.
A medical helicopter was initially requested but it was unable to respond due to the inclement weather conditions.
Five victims were transported to the hospital. Three of them suffered critical injuries, one was in serious condition and one suffered minor injuries, according to Vucha.
An 89-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the Mazda and among the critically injured, died after being transported to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Huntley, the sheriff’s office said.
The McHenry County Coroner’s Office publicly identified her on Tuesday as Ann Song, 89, of Woodbury, Minnesota.
All but one of the injured victims were wearing their seatbelts during the crash, which weather was believed to be a factor.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit is leading the investigation.