Police Squad Entered Intersection On Red Light Before Fatal Crash: Police

SPRING GROVE, IL — A Spring Grove police squad car had a red light when it entered an intersection with its emergency lights activated Sunday afternoon, triggering a chain-reaction crash that killed a 65-year-old woman and injured several others, police said Monday.

McHenry County Sheriff's Office deputies, Spring Grove police, Richmond police and McHenry County Conservation Police responded around 2:05 p.m. Sunday to the crash at U.S. Route 12 and Winn Road in Spring Grove. The Spring Grove Fire Protection District, Fox Lake Fire Protection District and Mercyhealth MD1 also responded.

According to the preliminary investigation, a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe operated as a Spring Grove police squad car was traveling west on Route 12 with its emergency lights and siren activated while responding to a call for service in another jurisdiction, according to a news release Monday from the sheriff's office.

The traffic signal for westbound Route 12 was red as the Tahoe entered the intersection when the squad collided with a 2015 Kia Soul traveling south on Winn Road, according to the sheriff's office. The impact caused the Tahoe to enter the eastbound lanes, where it struck a 2022 Jeep Compass head-on.

The Jeep was then struck by an eastbound 2023 Honda CR-V.

A 65-year-old woman who was riding in the Kia was taken to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

A 65-year-old man who was also in the Kia was flown to Javon Bea Hospital in Rockford with serious injuries.

The 60-year-old driver of the police squad was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not considered serious and was later released. The driver and passenger of the Jeep were also taken to a local hospital and later released, authorities said.

The driver and two passengers of the Honda CR-V were not injured.

The crash remains under investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff's Office Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit.