South Elgin crash sends three to hospital

A crash in South Elgin shut down Route 31 for more than an hour Saturday afternoon and sent three people to the hospital, police said.

The accident took place around 2 p.m. at Josephine Avenue and Route 31. A BMW headed west on Josephine was hit by another vehicle that was traveling on Route 31, according to South Elgin police.

Paramedics took one woman and two men, described by police as young adults, from both vehicles to Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin. One of the patients had to be cut out of a vehicle and one person was unconscious, police said.

Route 31 was closed between Sundown Road and South Elgin village limits until after 3 p.m. while police and firefighters tended to the injured persons and cleared the scene. The BMW appeared to be totaled.

One of the drivers was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, police said.

"Depending on the results of a blood draw, there may be further charges," South Elgin police Sgt. Randy Endean said.

Police were not able to provide names of the persons involved or updates on their conditions.