I-90 crash kills South Elgin man; Charges pending against driver

Charges are pending against a 24-year-old Carpentersville man who was driving a vehicle involved in a high-speed crash that killed one of his passengers Thursday on I-90, Illinois State Police said.

The victim, Victor A. Ortega, 24, of South Elgin, was seated in the front passenger seat of the 2006 Toyota traveling east on Interstate 90 between Huntley and Elgin shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday.

As the driver changed from the outside lane to the second lane, he lost control of the car, which rolled over into the ditch on the right side of the roadway, state police Master Sgt. Pete Howe said.

“We did have witnesses report that (the car) had been previously traveling at a high rate of speed,” Howe said.

The driver, who was wearing a seat belt, and two other male passengers, also from Carpentersville, were injured and taken to Sherman Hospital in Elgin.

One passenger sustained minor injuries, while the driver and other passenger suffered serious injuries that potentially could be life-threatening, Howe said.

It is unclear whether Ortega and the other two passengers were wearing seat belts.

“It’s pending investigation and there should be charges forthcoming against the driver,” Howe said. “The driver is currently in the hospital. (Charges) would be pending his physical condition.”