VIDEO: Overspill of crowds and traffic from the 2nd Annual Paul Walker Memorial Event at the intersection of Dundee Road and Kennicott Avenue just east of the main event area.
Arlington Heights police responded about 6:47 PM Sunday to reports of severe traffic congestion near the construction site of Arlington Lexus, Wilke Road and Dundee Road Arlington Heights, IL. Police received a report Saturday that traffic on ramps to Route 53 at Dundee Road are heavily congested. Police were aware of the potential for a large event on Friday night.
The congestion was due to an event at 1100 West Dundee Road at the future Arlington Lexus location which spilled over along Dundee Road and Kennicott Avenue with a large crowd and smaller groups congregating near the Kohl’s parking lot and at Portillo’s. A few cars were seen driving excessively fast through the parking lot lanes near Xsport Fitness, and some witnesses said they were frightened by some of the drivers’
An estimated 3,000 to 5,000 vehicles were cruising the area near the location for the 2nd Annual Paul Walker Memorial Meet. Vehicles also parked along the ramps of the interchange of Route 53 and Dundee Road.
The event was held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. but didn’t clear out until about 10:30 p.m.
Police asked people to avoid Dundee Road and avoid Route 53 in the area. Police also said the crowd was calm while they worked to control traffic and patrolled the area.
Buffalo Grove police, Cook County Sheriff’s Deputies and Illinois State Police assisted Arlington Heights Police Department. Extra Arlington Heights police officers were called in for duty to provide coverage for the event and still cover the rest of Arlington Heights.
Last year’s event was held on Saturday December 7, 2013 in the parking lot in front of H.O.M.E. Bar and Ultra Foods. No serious crashes were reported this year, but last year a rollover crash occurred at Willow Road and Schoenbeck Road in Prospect Heights involving a vehicle that had just left the Prospect Heights event (See The Cardinal video Paul Walker Meet/Cruise Orderly, But Rollover Crash And Car Vs. Shed Crash Occur Near Fast & Furious Star Tribute At Prospect Crossing Near Rand Rd And Olive St, Prospect Heights).
Actor Paul Walker — star of Fast & Furious movies — died with his friend Roger Rodas in a one-vehicle crash involving a concrete light pole and two trees on November 30, 2013. The two occupants were in Roda’s red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, which burst into flames immediately after the crash — killing both occupants.
LIVE TRAFFIC MAP of neighborhood of Paul Walker memorial event with traffic congestion …
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