Three people were hospitalized and one of them had to be extricated by firefighters after a multiple-vehicle crash completely shut down Route 31 near McHenry Wednesday afternoon.
The Nunda Rural Fire Protection District and Cary Fire Protection District responded around 2:32 p.m. Wednesday to the intersection of Route 31 and Gracy Road in unincorporated McHenry for a report of a multi-vehicle crash.
Nunda Rural Fire Protection District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said emergency crews were responding when they received additional information that one person may have been trapped inside a vehicle.
Firefighters arrived and located the crash just north of the intersection. Three vehicles had sustained moderate to heavy damage.
A small work truck had come to rest in a nearby ditch with the driver trapped inside, Vucha said.
Firefighters quickly extricated the adult male driver from the truck.
He and the truck’s other adult male occupant were both transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, Vucha said.
The crash also involved a dark-colored compact crossover SUV and a white SUV.
An elderly woman driving the compact crossover SUV was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.
Vucha said the driver of the white Jeep SUV, an adult male, declined medical attention at the scene.
Route 31 was shut down in both directions for approximately 90 minutes while responders cared for the injured, removed the damaged vehicles and cleared the roadway.
“The Nunda Rural Fire Protection District appreciates the assistance provided by the McHenry Township Fire Protection District and Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department with patient care and transportation,” Vucha said.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation by the Prairie Grove Police Department.