Lake County Gazette

Lake County Sheriff's traffic investigators are examining a fatal traffic accident involving three vehicles that occurred in Wadsworth on July 5.

According to a news release, deputies responded at approximately 10:15 p.m. to the scene of the crash on West Russell Road at Frontage Road. Upon arrival, they found multiple occupants injured and the vehicles significantly damaged.

The preliminary investigation indicated that a 2020 Porsche Macan, driven by a 58-year-old man from Addison, was traveling westbound on Russell Road. The vehicle approached the stop sign at Frontage Road where a 2016 Chevrolet Volt, driven by a 35-year-old man from Niles, was stopped behind a 2020 Mercedes-Benz driven by a 37-year-old woman from Rolling Meadows. Both the Chevrolet and Mercedes-Benz were halted at the stop sign.

The news release said that the driver of the Porsche failed to stop and collided with the rear of the Chevrolet at high speed. This impact pushed the Chevrolet into the Mercedes-Benz. A passenger in the Chevrolet, a 33-year-old woman from Niles, was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries and later died. The driver of the Chevrolet and another passenger, a 4-year-old girl from Niles, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and were also taken to an area hospital.

The release further noted that both the driver of the Mercedes-Benz and a passenger, a 40-year-old man from Schaumburg, were hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The Porsche driver was also taken to an area hospital with serious injuries that were not life-threatening.

Speed and alcohol appear to be contributing factors in this incident according to authorities. Criminal charges are expected as investigations continue by Lake County Sheriff's Office Technical Crash Investigations Team.