Two people were hospitalized, including one who was transported by helicopter with serious injuries, after an SUV crashed into a stopped vehicle on Route 14 in Crystal Lake Sunday evening.
The Crystal Lake Fire/Rescue Department and Crystal Lake Police Department responded around 5:02 p.m. Sunday to the area of Route 14 and Lucas Road in Crystal Lake for a vehicle crash.
Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Richard Neumann said officers arrived to find a two-vehicle crash with injuries.
A preliminary investigation shows that a Ford SUV had been left unattended in the southeast-bound lanes of Route 14 just north of Lucas Road, Neumann said.
Police did not say whether the Ford was stopped due to a mechanical issue or another reason.
Neumann said a Chevrolet SUV, which was traveling in the same direction, struck the rear of the unoccupied Ford.
The driver of the Chevrolet suffered serious facial injuries and required transport to a trauma center.
They were transported by ambulance to the helipad at Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Woodstock where they met a LifeNet medical helicopter.
The victim was transferred to the helicopter crew and flown to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with injuries that are not life-threatening.
A passenger in the Chevrolet suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by ground ambulance to a local hospital, Neumann said.
A portion of Route 14 was shut down for approximately three hours while emergency crews and investigators worked at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation by the Crystal Lake Police Department. No citations or charges have been announced.
Anyone who has information relating to the incident is asked to contact the Crystal Lake Police Department at 815-356-3620.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted to the Crystal Lake Police Department by texting the word CLPDTIP along with the tip information to 847411.