A Lake County sheriff’s deputy was hospitalized after an SUV collided into her squad car in Gurnee Saturday evening. Three separate drivers were then arrested for driving drunk into the blocked-off crash scene.
The crash occurred at around 10:55 p.m. Saturday at Route 21 and Grand Avenue in Gurnee.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said a preliminary investigation shows the deputy was traveling southbound on Route 21.
As she was approaching Grand Avenue, the traffic light was green for northbound and southbound traffic on Route 21.
The deputy proceeded through the intersection on the green light, Covelli said.
A Toyota SUV, driven by a 44-year-old Park City man, was traveling northbound on Route 21 and attempted to make a left turn for westbound Grand Avenue.
The Toyota made the left turn “directly in front of the sheriff’s deputy,” colliding with her squad car, Covelli said.
The Gurnee Police Department and Gurnee Fire Department responded to the scene.
Firefighter/paramedics transported the deputy to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with minor injuries.
She has since been treated and released from the hospital, Covelli said.
The man driving the Toyota was not injured.
It is unclear if or what citations have been issued to the man so far.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was called to conduct an independent investigation.
Investigators were seen gathering data from both vehicles, taking photos of the scene and using spray paint to mark specific locations on the roadway.
Officers and deputies were blocking roadways at all four sides of the intersection while the investigators worked the scene.
Three separate drivers, at different times, drove around the traffic control points, Covelli said.
Each driver was determined to be driving under the influence of alcohol and was arrested.
A Lake & McHenry County Scanner reporter witnessed one of the vehicles, a Hyundai SUV, driving past an auxiliary deputy who was blocking eastbound Grand Avenue at Rogers Road, which is just west of the scene, at 1:02 a.m. Sunday.
The auxiliary deputy blared his horn at the Hyundai as it proceeded past the roadblock.
The Hyundai then pulled into the Gurnee Plaza parking lot at the northwest corner of the intersection and proceeded westbound on Grand Avenue before being stopped by deputies and questioned, the reporter witnessed.
The driver, who appeared to be the sole occupant of the Hyundai, performed field-sobriety tests and was breathalyzed.
After being breathalyzed, deputies placed him in handcuffs for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, the reporter witnessed.
The roadway was shut down until the accident investigation at the scene was complete at around 2:30 a.m. Sunday.
The deputy-involved crash remains under investigation by the Gurnee Police Department and Lake County MCAT.
The sheriff’s office said they thank the Gurnee Police Department and other police departments that responded to assist.