Reckless driving led to six-vehicle crash in Long Grove, police say

Charges were pending Wednesday following a six-vehicle crash near Long Grove that police blamed on reckless driving.

Four people were hurt in the collision, which occurred about 7 a.m. on Route 83 at Gilmer Road. All were expected to survive.

Witnesses reportedly told Lake County sheriff’s deputies that a Chevrolet Blazer and a black sedan were weaving around other cars as they headed south on Route 83.

“The Chevrolet and black sedan appeared to be traveling at a high rate of speed, trying to get in front of one another,” sheriff’s Deputy Chief Chris Covelli said.

As the two vehicles approached Gilmer, the Chevrolet abruptly cut in front of and clipped the sedan, police said. The impact caused the Chevrolet to roll onto its roof and hit two vehicles stopped in a left-turn lane on the northbound side of Route 83. Those autos were pushed backward into a garbage truck and a box truck, police said.

The black sedan left the area headed south, Covelli said.

The Chevrolet’s driver, who had to be freed from the SUV by firefighters, and three other people were taken by ambulance to hospitals. Three were taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, and one was taken to Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital.

Fortunately, all of the injuries were minor, said Battalion Chief Kevin Wodrich of the Countryside Fire Protection District.

The drivers of the garbage truck and box truck weren’t hurt.