Flight for Life called in Crystal Lake crash

A Crystal Lake man was taken to a hospital by helicopter with serious injuries after an early morning crash in Crystal Lake.

Police said 51-year-old Mark A. McGraw of Round Lake was driving a 1999 Dodge Dakota west on Route 14 near Pingree Road when he crossed over into oncoming traffic. McGraw struck Anthony Nowakowski, 42, of Crystal Lake, who was headed east on Route 14 at the time of the crash.

Nowakowski was extricated from his 1989 Ford Probe and taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge by Flight for Life, police said.

After crashing into the Ford Probe, police say McGraw's Dodge left the roadway, struck a tree and continued into a parking lot of 7901 Pingree Road, where it hit another vehicle. The car then returned to Pingree Road and struck a northbound 2004 Dodge Neon. The driver of that vehicle, Elaine Robinson, 51, of Crystal Lake, was treated and released at the scene.

McGraw was taken to Centegra Memorial Medical Center in Woodstock where he was treated and released.

Police said McGraw was cited for improper lane usage and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.