Chain-reaction crash snarls afternoon traffic

A four-car accident snarled rush-hour traffic Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Palatine and Rand roads in Arlington Heights. No one was seriously injured.

Arlington Heights police say the crash was caused when 20-year-old Mario Lopez Quiroz of Mount Prospect was traveling southeast on Rand Road and made an illegal left turn onto Palatine Road. His vehicle was hit by another car, causing Quiroz's 2001 Pontiac Grand Am to roll over into the opposite lane and hit another vehicle. That car then hit a fourth vehicle.

Arlington Heights police Cmdr. Michael Miljan said one victim was transported to Northwest Community Hospital for minor injuries and was released, while the others were treated at the scene.

Quiroz was ticketed for his illegal turn and arrested for driving without a license, Miljan said.

He also said everybody involved in the accident was wearing seat belts.