Sycamore boy, 11, killed in Kane County crash

An 11-year-old boy was killed and two others injured in a four-vehicle crash Wednesday night in Virgil Township.

The crash occurred about 7:30 p.m. on Route 64, west of Peplow Road, Kane County Sheriff's Lt. Pat Gengler said Thursday.

Matthew Ranken of Sycamore was a back seat passenger in a Chevy Cavalier driven by his brother, Nicholas Weber, 21, of Sycamore, Gengler said.

Weber's car was one of three vehicles stopped in the westbound lane of Route 64 due to a traffic backup caused by another accident about a mile west.

A fourth vehicle, a Ford Expedition, was headed west on Route 64 and failed to stop for the other vehicles, crashing into the back of the Cavalier, Gengler said. The Cavalier then struck a Buick Lucerne, which went off the roadway on to the north shoulder. The Cavalier continued forward and then hit the rear of a Hyundai.

The three occupants of the Cavalier were taken to Kishwaukee Hospital where Ranken was pronounced dead. Weber and front seat passenger Teale Noble, 18, of Sycamore, were treated for nonlife-threatening injuries, Gengler said. The drivers of the other cars were the sole occupants of their respective vehicles and were treated at the scene.

The driver of the Expedition, Benjamin Black, 28, of Sycamore, was issued citations for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and driving without insurance, Gengler said. No other citations were issued.

Route 64 was closed for four hours while the crash was investigated.

Gengler said the roadway was covered with blowing and drifting snow at the time of the crash, and that all passengers were wearing seat belts.

The sheriff's office is continuing its investigation and has not determined if the use of drugs, alcohol or texting played a role in the crash.