A 71-year-old Huntley man accused of being drunk when he caused a two-vehicle crash near Marengo about one year ago is being sued for $5 million, court records show.
The lawsuit filed in McHenry County Circuit Court in June claims Bruce Scott, 71, of Huntley, was intoxicated when he ran a stop sign and slammed his 2024 Lexus LX600 into a 2021 GMC pickup truck driven by James Cierney, 58, of Woodstock, at 7:59 a.m. on April 3, 2025.
Court records show Cierney is seeking $5 million in damages due to “severe and permanent injuries” he sustained in the crash, the lawsuit reads.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts, and Union Fire Protection District responded to the intersection of North Union Road and Route 176 in Seneca Township for a vehicle crash east of Marengo and north of Union.
First arriving emergency crews found the two-vehicle crash with heavy damage, according to Marengo Fire & Rescue District’s Public Information Officer Alex Vucha.
Authorities said both vehicles — the Lexus driven by Scott and the GMC pickup driven by Cierney — had come to rest off the roadway in the northwest ditch.
Cierney was found unconscious and heavily entrapped in his vehicle, authorities said, resulting in a prolonged extrication effort.
A LifeNet medical helicopter was also called to the scene due to the severity of Cierney’s injuries.
The flight crew joined ground personnel during the extrication, providing advanced medical care and working alongside firefighters to stabilize Cierney while he remained trapped, Vucha said.
Cierney, who was 57 at the time of the crash, was removed from the vehicle, transferred to the awaiting helicopter, and transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with critical injuries.
Scott, who was 69 at the time of the crash, was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital with moderate injuries.
Both drivers were the sole occupants of their vehicles.
The sheriff’s office said at the time the preliminary investigation showed the Lexus driven by Scott was traveling northbound on North Union Road when it hit the GMC as it traveled westbound on Route 176.
Authorities said at the time that Scott’s Lexis failed to stop at the stop sign.
Following an investigation into the crash, court records show Scott was charged with Class 4 felony counts of Aggravated DUI resulting in Great Bodily Harm and Obstructing Justice, along with a misdemeanor count of DUI.
The civil suit against Scott said the Huntley man operated the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and disregarded the stop sign before the crash.
Scott is due back in court on July 22 for the criminal case, court records show.
Scott and Cierney are due in court on Sept. 22 for a scheduling hearing regarding the civil case.