Five people were hospitalized after a two-vehicle crash caused heavy damage, left a utility pole wire entangling a car and shut down Route 23 near Marengo Sunday morning.
The Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 10:19 a.m. Sunday to the intersection of North Route 23 and River Road in unincorporated Marengo for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said fire crews arrived a short time later and located a two-vehicle crash with heavy damage.
A blue four-door car was found in the roadway and the second vehicle, a dark-colored four-door sedan, had left the roadway and came to rest in a ditch.
The car off the roadway was entangled in a utility pole wire, Vucha said.
All occupants of the two cars had removed themselves prior to the fire department arriving.
An initial assessment of the involved patients was conducted and the incident was upgraded to a “Working EMS” response for additional ambulances to the scene.
Vucha said the incident was later upgraded again through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) to request more ambulances.
Five adult victims were evaluated and transported to local hospitals with minor injuries.
Route 23 was shut down in both directions for approximately an hour while emergency personnel treated patients, mitigated hazards and coordinated vehicle removal from the scene, Vucha said.
The Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts was assisted by the Boone County Fire Protection District #2, Genoa Kingston Fire Protection District, Harvard Fire Protection District, Huntley Fire Protection District and Union Fire Protection District.
It is unknown if any citations or charges have been filed. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.