Eight hurt in dump truck crash in Bartlett

Police and rescue crews continue to investigate an accident that injured eight people at East Lake Street near Oak Avenue in Bartlett, officials said.

Bartlett Fire Protection District officials said crews were called to the scene of the crash at around 6:15 a.m., and, upon arriving, found a collision involving a dump truck, three SUVs and a pickup truck.

Donald Shaffer, 55, of the 200 block of E. Devon Avenue in Elk Grove Village was driving a large dump truck westbound on Lake Street when he caused a rear-end collision with a brown colored 2002 Jeep Liberty and a brown 2003 Buick Rendezvous that were stopped in traffic, Bartlett police officials said.

The large dump truck then crossed over into the oncoming lanes of traffic and struck a blue 1995 Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck, officials said, causing the pickup to lose control and strike a white 1995 GMC Jimmy.

Shaffer, the drivers of the Jeep Liberty, the Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck, and GMC Jimmy, as well as a passenger in the Buick Rendezvous were injured in the crash.

They were transported from the scene to three area hospitals by the Bartlett Fire Protection District, South Elgin & Countryside Fire Protection District, Hanover Park Fire Department and Streamwood Fire Department.

Fire officials said occupants in one of the SUVs and the pickup truck needed to be extricated following the crash.

In total, eight people were injured, fire officials said, but two of the victims were treated and released at the scene.

Police said Shaffer will be charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident when he is released from the hospital.

Lake Street was closed near Valley Lane in both directions for about an hour and 15 minutes, officials said.