Driver cited after crashing car into Buffalo Grove school

Buffalo Grove police cited a 52-year-old man after he drove his car into Willow Grove School while apparently suffering from a medical condition early Monday morning.

David Kopka, of the 300 block of Chateau Drive in Buffalo Grove, was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident after the 1:10 a.m. crash into the school at 777 Checker Drive.

Cmdr. Steve Husak said Kopka's car continued straight through a nearby curve and then the school's semicircle driveway before crashing through several windows and two walls in the building. The car finally came to a stop in a kindergarten classroom, police said.

“Something medically went wrong and he didn't turn or anything and just drove straight into the school,” Husak said. “It does not involve drugs or alcohol in any way.”

Kopka was treated and released at the scene, according to the Buffalo Grove Fire Department.

Firefighters from 10 area departments joined Buffalo Grove firefighters on the scene to assist in shoring up the school to prevent a collapse, fire officials said early Monday.

Kildeer Countryside School District 96 officials said the school was structurally safe following the accident, and open the building for classes as usual. Carpenters also were on the scene early Monday making repairs to the facility.