February 13, 2024

Sheriff’s Office Investigates Serious Injury Traffic Crash

A 19-year-old Harvard man was injured following a three-vehicle crash in the 17100 block of US Route 14, in unincorporated Harvard. 

On Monday February 12, 2024, at 2:15 p.m., members of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Harvard Fire Department, Marengo Fire Department, Woodstock Fire Department, MD 1 and LifeNet responded to a crash involving three vehicles which resulted in injuries to one driver.    

Preliminary investigation indicates that the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze was traveling southbound on US Route 14 and attempted to pass a semi through the intersection with Dunham Road and continued into a no passing zone. The Chevrolet then entered the southbound lane of travel and rear-ended a 2011 Infinity causing it to exit the roadway to the west, where it came to rest in an open field. The Chevrolet continued southbound, crossed over the roadway, and exited left into the parking lot of a business where it struck an unoccupied Hyundai Sonata head on. The units severed a natural gas main and came to rest in the parking lot area. 

The driver of the Chevrolet a 19-year-old Harvard man and sole occupant was transported to Javon Bea Hospital Riverside in Rockford in critical condition. There was air bag deployment, and he was not wearing a seat belt. The driver of the Infinity, a 63-year-old Lake Barrington man and his passenger a 63-year-old Chicago female were not injured. They both were wearing seat belts.  

NICOR gas also responded to the scene for the natural gas leak and rendered the scene safe. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash. 

The investigation is ongoing and is being investigated by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit.  

/end/