Police said a driver was cited but impairment and distracted driving were not to blame for a two-vehicle crash that left three people hospitalized in critical condition on Route 45 in Libertyville Monday morning.
The Libertyville Police Department and Libertyville Fire Department responded around 10:20 a.m. Monday to Route 45 and Winchester Road in Libertyville for a vehicle crash with injuries.
Police officers and firefighters arrived to find a silver Nissan sedan and a Kia SUV involved in a crash in the northeast corner of the intersection.
Libertyville Police Deputy Chief Chad Roszkowiak said the preliminary investigation determined the Kia was travelling southbound on US Highway 45 in the left turn lane at Winchester Road, preparing to turn eastbound onto Winchester Road while the silver Nissan was northbound US Highway 45.
The Kia SUV was rolled over onto its side, partially off the roadway following the crash.
The sedan, which had front-end damage, came to rest in the intersection.
He said the preliminary indications are that impairment and distracted driving did not play a role in the crash.
Libertyville Assistant Fire Chief Michael Hall said three ambulances were called to the scene, including one from Mundelein.
The sedan was occupied by the driver and sole occupant, who was able to self-extricate themselves.
The Kia SUV was occupied by a man and a woman, Hall said. The male victim was trapped inside and required extrication.
Hall said firefighters cut the roof of the Kia off to free the man from the vehicle.
The process, which involved the use of struts to stabilize the car, took approximately 15 minutes.
All three victims involved were transported by ambulance to the hospital in critical condition based on the mechanism of injury, Hall said.
Police shut down most of the intersection and diverted traffic for over two hours until around 12:40 p.m., at which time tow trucks removed the cars following a crash investigation.
Northbound Route 45 was shut down at USG Drive, westbound Winchester Road was shut down at American Way and eastbound traffic was shut down at the intersection and diverted south on Route 45.
The driver of the Kia was cited for failure to yield when turning left, Roszkowiak said.