Two teens seriously injured in Prospect Heights crash

A Prospect Heights man and his teenage passenger suffered serious injuries early Saturday when the car they were riding in veered off the road and struck several trees before its wreckage came to a stop in a home's front yard, authorities said.

Nikola Radanovich, 18, and a 15-year-old Mount Prospect girl remained hospitalized Monday in the intensive care unit of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge recovering from extensive injuries, Prospect Heights Deputy Police Chief Al Steffen said. Both are expected to survive.

The cause of the one-car crash remains under investigation, but police believe alcohol may have been a factor, Steffen said. No charges have been filed at this time, he added.

Police say Radanovich was driving a 2005 Volvo eastbound on Willow Road at about 12:38 a.m. Saturday when he lost control of the vehicle and it crashed at Circle Avenue. The vehicle was traveling about 70 mph in the 35 mph speed zone moments earlier when it passed a Prospect Heights police car heading westbound on Willow, Steffen said.

“Before the officer even had a chance to turn around, he saw the (Volvo's) taillights go askew and then the vehicle disappeared,” he said.

Circle Avenue resident Vance Jackson said the car struck two 30- to 40-foot pine trees in his front yard, leaving both toppled over.

“It went right through them and then probably went another 100 feet after that before rolling over,” Jackson said. “It's amazing anyone survived.”

Members of the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District had to use Jaws of Life to remove Radanovich and the 15-year-old girl from the badly damaged vehicle, police said.