A woman has been cited after she was critically injured and flown to the hospital following a two-vehicle rollover crash that also sent three children to the hospital near Woodstock.
The Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 8:47 a.m. Sunday to the intersection of Collins Road and Vermont Road in unincorporated Woodstock for a report of a vehicle crash with entrapment.
Firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes and located a two-vehicle crash with heavy damage, according to Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts Public Information Officer Alex Vucha.
One of the vehicles, a small Honda, had rolled onto its side and was partially hanging over a guardrail.
Vucha said the call was upgraded due to the number of patients involved and the complexity of the incident to bring additional ambulances and manpower to the scene.
A LifeNet medical helicopter was also requested to the scene. A total of six people were involved.
The adult female driver of the Honda was assisted from the wreckage by fire personnel and transferred to an awaiting ambulance for treatment.
No extrication was needed to remove her from the vehicle, Vucha said.
Five occupants were in a Dodge Ram pickup truck. An adult female and three children from the Dodge were transported by ambulance to a local hospital with injuries believed to be minor.
An adult male who was also in the pickup truck declined any additional medical attention while at the scene.
Vucha said the medical helicopter initially dispatched to the scene landed in a nearby field but experienced a mechanical issue before patient transport could begin.
A second helicopter was requested and successfully completed the airlift of the Honda driver, who was transported in serious condition to Javon Bea Hospital – Riverside in Rockford.
The sheriff’s office said she suffered critical injuries that were not life-threatening.
The intersection was shut down in all directions for nearly two hours while emergency crews treated patients, secured the scene and coordinated air medical operations.
“We appreciate the assistance of the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District, the Huntley Fire Protection District, and additional responding resources for their support during the incident,” Vucha said.
Court records show the driver of the 2016 Honda Fit was Kristina M. Gundelach, 56, of Marengo.
Gundelach was cited for disobeying a stop sign and given an initial court date of July 15.
Court records said Gundelach was westbound on Collins Road at Vermont Road when she failed to obey the stop sign.
Both westbound and eastbound traffic on Collins Road have stop signs at the intersection, while traffic on Vermont Road does not.