Five injured in three-car crash in Elk Grove Village

Three adults and two children were injured in a three-car crash Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of Nerge and Rohlwing roads in Elk Grove Village.

According to police, a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by Pamela Gerstmayr, 45, of Wood Dale, was eastbound on Nerge just before 4 p.m., when it swerved "abruptly" into the left turn lane at Rohlwing Road and hit a Toyota Corolla.

The Corolla, driven by Wieslawa Puchacz, 61, of Chicago, then rotated and hit the rear of a 1999 Ford Windstar driven by 41-year-old Hanover Park resident Leonor Granados.

Sgt. Jeff Prior said the Jeep then vaulted end over end, landing on the hood of the Toyota.

Elk Grove Village fire Lt. Scott M. Peterson said Gerstmayr, Granados and her two children were taken to Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, where they were treated and released. Puchacz was taken to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, where she also was treated and released.

"Everyone was wearing their safety belts, which kept injuries to a minimum," Prior said. "But (Gerstmayr), especially, would have sustained far more serious injuries if she hadn't been wearing hers."

Prior said the cause of the crash is still under investigation and charges are being considered.