Three die in two separate Bartlett crashes
Three people were killed and several more injured Sunday in separate crashes in Bartlett that left vehicles mangled and roads closed for hours, police said.
The first crash occurred about 10:40 a.m. when a Ford Fiesta heading north on Route 59 crossed the centerline and hit an oncoming Subaru WRX near Auburn Lane, according to Bartlett police.
The driver of the Ford, a 49-year-old woman, was taken to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, where she was pronounced dead, police said. She has not been identified.
The driver of the Subaru was taken to Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.
Route 59 was closed between Stearns Road and West Bartlett Road for more than four hours while Bartlett police and the Major Case Assistance Team's Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team investigated the head-on collision.
About two hours later, two people were killed and five injured when an SUV rolled over on Lake Street/U.S. Route 20 near the westbound ramp from Route 59, Bartlett police said.
A 25-year-old man was driving a Ford Escape west on Lake Street about 12:45 p.m. when he lost control, authorities said. The vehicle rolled over, left the roadway, and hit a chain-link fence and utility pole.
The driver and a 31-year-old female passenger, who have not been identified, were pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The five other passengers were taken with nonlife-threatening injuries to Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin and St. Alexius Medical Center.
Witness Jason Vega, who lives nearby, was pulling out of his driveway when he saw the Escape crash into the pole. He and his wife called 911, ran to the scene and started helping passengers out of the wrecked vehicle.
"It was horrific," Vega said.
Vega said he and his wife tried calming three people who were able to get out, and started calling their families. Two passengers had to be extricated from the back of the vehicle, he said. Several other witnesses helped at the scene, including an off-duty police officer and paramedic.
"They were so responsive and knew what to do," Vega said.
The westbound ramp and the westbound lanes of Lake Street remained closed Sunday night between Route 59 and Naperville Road while authorities investigated, police said.