Two teenage drivers were able to escape without injury after a two-vehicle crash caused one of the cars to quickly become fully engulfed in flames in Hawthorn Woods, police said.
The Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department and Hawthorn Woods Police Department responded around 10:50 p.m. Saturday to Old McHenry Road and Quentin Road in Hawthorn Woods for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
Hawthorn Woods Police Chief and Director of Public Safety John Malcolm said officers arrived in one minute and found a two-vehicle crash.
The crash involved a Toyota Camry and a Honda Civic.
Malcolm said the Honda caught on fire after the impact and became fully engulfed in flames.
Firefighters arrived and reported the cars were heavily damaged. They pulled a hose line and began extinguishing the fire.
Officers confirmed all occupants of the two vehicles had evacuated on their own and were safe, Malcolm said.
Paramedics evaluated the four occupants of the cars and no injuries were reported. They declined transport to the hospital.
An investigation showed that one of the vehicles was traveling westbound on Old McHenry Road at Quentin Road.
Malcolm said the car was attempting to turn left to go southbound on Quentin Road when it pulled out in front of the other car, which was traveling eastbound on Old McHenry Road.
One of the drivers was an 18-year-old Libertyville man and the other was an 18-year-old Hawthorn Woods man.
The Hawthorn Woods man was found at fault and issued citations for improper left turn and failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.
“The incident was handled safely and efficiently by responding agencies,” Malcolm said. Tow trucks removed both vehicles from the scene.