Driver with dogs in car blamed for crash in Hampshire

A 53-year-old man behind the wheel of a subcompact car was at fault in a head-on collision Monday afternoon in Hampshire involving a semitrailer truck, police said Tuesday.

The St. Charles man, who had a pair of Labrador retrievers in the car with him, was cited for failure to yield at an intersection as a result of the crash at Big Timber and Ketcham roads, according to police, who were not releasing his identity.

The man was airlifted to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and his dogs were “absolutely fine,” acting Hampshire Police Chief Brian Thompson said.

According to Thompson, the man's Kia Rio was headed west on Big Timber at 2:34 p.m. when he attempted to make a left turn without waiting for the eastbound truck to clear. The car plowed into the semi and forced it to roll over and land on its side, Thompson said.

Police have ruled out drugs, alcohol and excessive speed as possible causes. The Kia driver was either impatient or just didn't see the truck, Thompson said.

The 50-year-old truck driver from Belvidere was driven by ambulance to Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin with non-life-threatening injuries.

Neither driver's condition was available Tuesday.

Authorities closed a stretch of Big Timber Road for about 90 minutes because of the crash, fire department officials said.