Police say a driver ran a red light and caused a four-vehicle crash, which left a victim seriously injured and flown to the hospital, before fleeing the scene in Crystal Lake Tuesday evening.
The Crystal Lake Police Department and Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department responded around 9:14 p.m. Tuesday to the area of Route 31 and Three Oaks Road for a report of a multi-vehicle crash.
Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Richard Neumann said officers arrived to find a four-vehicle crash with multiple injuries.
A preliminary investigation showed a Mazda SUV was driving westbound on Three Oaks Road toward Route 31.
The Mazda was traveling at a high rate of speed when it disregarded the traffic control light at the intersection, Neumann said.
The Mazda entered the intersection and collided with two sedans, which were both traveling southbound on Route 31.
Neumann said the Mazda continued through the intersection after crashing into the sedans and collided head-on with an SUV, which was eastbound on Three Oaks Road just west of Route 31.
The driver of the SUV suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The victim reportedly suffered a severe hand injury that involved multiple fingers being amputated.
An ambulance transported the victim to the LifeNet medical helicopter base at Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry and the helicopter flew the victim to a trauma center.
The drivers of the two sedans suffered minor injuries and were transported to local hospitals.
Neumann said the driver of the Mazda, identified as Deondrae L. Clements, 35, of Elgin, fled the scene but was later arrested by the East Dundee Police Department.
Clements suffered minor injuries, was treated at a hospital and taken into custody by the Crystal Lake Police Department.
A portion of the intersection of Route 31 and Three Oaks Road was shut down for approximately six hours while police investigated the incident.
Clements was charged with failure to report a crash involving injury, aggravated reckless driving causing great bodily harm and driving while license suspended or revoked for driving under the influence.
Clements was transported to the McHenry County Jail where he remains held.
Anyone who has information relating to the crash is asked to call the Crystal Lake Police Department at 815-356-3620.
The crash remains under investigation by the Crystal Lake Police Department.