Waukegan man dies in head-on crash in Beach Park

An 18-year-old Waukegan man died after his car was struck head-on in a multi-vehicle crash late Saturday in Beach Park.

The fatal crash involving five vehicles occurred about 11:45 p.m. near Lewis and Leland avenues, next to Waukegan National Airport, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities said a Toyota Avalon, driven by a 21-year-old Zion man, was traveling southbound on Lewis and failed to slow down for traffic ahead when he collided with a southbound Dodge Journey, driven by a 29-year-old Zion man.

The Toyota then struck a southbound Nissan Sentra, driven by a 37-year-old Waukegan woman, before crossing into the northbound lanes and colliding head-on with a Chevrolet Malibu, driven by the 18-year-old man from Waukegan, authorities said.

A northbound Ford Edge narrowly avoided the collision, but was damaged by debris, officials said.

The driver of the Chevrolet Malibu sustained critical injuries and was later pronounced deceased at a hospital.

The driver of the Toyota Avalon was transported to a hospital with minor injuries, while a 17-year-old male passenger from Waukegan was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the Dodge Journey was treated for minor injuries at a hospital, and the driver of the Nissan Sentra was unharmed.

The crash is under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff's Office Technical Crash Investigations Team.