A young man was transported to a trauma center after being trapped in a crash that left his car wrapped around a tree with severe damage in Zion, authorities said.
The Zion Police Department and Zion Fire Rescue Department responded around 6:49 p.m. Saturday to the 3100 block of Gabriel Avenue in Zion for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries and entrapment.
Zion Fire Rescue Department Lt. Eric Pursche said crews arrived to find a single vehicle crash into a tree.
There was heavy damage and the front of the car was ripped off.
One occupant was trapped inside and it took firefighters approximately 20 minutes to free him from the vehicle, Pursche said.
The Beach Park Fire Department assisted at the scene with extrication efforts. Witnesses said the car was wrapped around the tree.
Pursche said the victim was stable but transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, which is a Level 1 trauma center, based on the mechanism of the crash and the severe damage.
Zion Police Department Lt. Derek Zaloudek said the crash involved a blue 2008 Honda Civic that left the roadway and struck a tree on the west side of Gabriel Avenue.
The driver, a 22-year-old Waukegan man, was the one who was trapped and needed extrication by the fire department.
His condition was unknown but his injuries were believed to be non-life-threatening.
Witnesses told officers that the Honda’s rear seat passenger fled southbound on Gabriel Avenue following the collision, Zaloudek said.
The front seat passenger, a 17-year-old Waukegan boy, remained at the scene and did not require medical treatment.
He was arrested by officers after he provided false identifying information, Zaloudek said.
Officers later learned that he had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court in Lake County in a driving under the influence case.
Officers are working to identify the third occupant who fled the scene and crash investigators are still determining the cause of the crash. Zaloudek said no charges have been filed yet.
Any witnesses to the crash who have not spoken with officers already are being asked to call the Zion Police Department at 847-872-8000.