St. Charles crash hospitalizes four

Alcohol and faulty equipment are suspected of playing a part in a head-on crash in St. Charles Sunday morning that sent four people to the hospital, St. Charles police said.

Police and firefighters responded just before 11 a.m. to the two-vehicle crash on Route 31, just north of Wildrose Springs Drive.

Authorities said a preliminary investigation indicates a Pontiac Grand Am driven by Luis Pina of Aurora was southbound on Route 31 when it veered into oncoming traffic and struck a Chevy Tahoe driven by Manuel Nunez, also of Aurora, and occupied by two passengers.

Pina was extricated from his vehicle and taken to Delnor Hospital in Geneva. Nunez and his passengers also were transported to Delnor, police said.

The roadway for more than three hours during the investigation, police said. It was reopened about 2:15 p.m.