Five hurt after SUV hits tree

Five teenagers were taken to the hospital after the driver of a sport utility vehicle crashed into a tree around 9 p.m. Tuesday in Arlington Heights.

The driver -- a 16-year-old-boy from Hawthorn Woods -- was arrested for driving under the influence, said Sgt. Bob Murray of the Arlington Heights Police Department.

Besides the driver, there were four other people in the vehicle, ages 16 to 18.

One passenger, a 17-year-old boy from Vernon Hills, was seriously injured and taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge via a Flight for Life helicopter, Murray said.

The helicopter hovered above the accident for almost an hour waiting for rescue personal to cut the roof off the vehicle and free the boy, Murray said.

He continued to recover on Wednesday, Murray said.

The driver and other passengers had non-life-threatening injuries and were all taken to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash, which took place on the 1400 block of North Yale Avenue in Arlington Heights.

Murray did not know if all or any of the passengers had on seat belts. The accident is still under investigation.