Lake Co. forest district officer injured in crash

A Lake County Forest Preserve District police officer was injured during an accident with a pickup truck in Gurnee, officials said Wednesday.

The unidentified officer had to be extricated from his squad car when it collided head on with the truck at Washington Street and Route 45 about 12:15 p.m. officials said.

The officer and the driver of the pickup were taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, officials said. The officer is suffering from nonlife threatening injuries, officials said.

Tom Hahn, the forest district’s executive director, said the unidentified officer was responding to a call at Brae Loch Golf Course on Route 45 in Grayslake when the accident occurred.

It’s unclear whether the officer or the pickup truck crossed the center line, Hahn said.

Gurnee fire officials said it took rescue crews 30 minutes to remove the officer from the squad car following the crash.