Crash forces evacuations in Hoffman Estates

One person was injured and five homes evacuated when a car crashed into a garage early Wednesday morning in Hoffman Estates, fire officials said.

A vehicle traveling east on Illinois Boulevard left the road about 4:30 a.m. and struck a couple of parked cars in the driveway of a home on the 600 block of Illinois Boulevard before crashing into the garage, Hoffman Estates Battalion Chief Patrick Fortunato said.

"It went through the front yard and missed a couple of trees and shrubs and ended up striking parked cars in the driveway," Fortunato said. "It struck two vehicles and pushed those cars over to the yard and then ended up going through the corner post of the garage and came to rest partially in the garage."

The crash severed the home's natural gas line and caused gasoline to leak from the mid-sized vehicle, Fortunato said.

While paramedics quickly removed the car's driver, firefighters evacuated homes on both sides of the crash due to the natural gas leak.

The driver suffered serious head and face injuries. He was taken to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates.

The homeowners evacuated without injury, and neighbors were allowed to return to their homes a short time later, after the gas leak was secured. Firefighters remained on the scene to check natural gas levels in nearby homes, Fortunato said.

Hoffman Estates police continue to investigate the crash.