Fatal head-on crash on wet, near-freezing road conditions at Arlington Heights Road and Hintz Road in Arlington Heights.
Police and firefighter/paramedics from Arlington Heights responded about 3:58 p.m. Friday, January 24, 2020 to a report of a crash with multiple injuries on Arlington Heights Road and Hintz Road in Arlington Heights.
Firefighter/paramedics from Fire Station 4 on arrival discovered the driver of a red SUV unresponsive with life-threatening injuries. A second ambulance was also dispatched to the scene for the driver of a yellow compact sedan. A Buffalo Grove Fire Department ambulance was assigned as the second ambulance to the scene.
The commanding fire officer on scene also requested extra paramedics to be dispatched to the scene. The driver of the red SUV was transported with Advanced Life Support to Northwest Community Hospital. Emergency Department medical staff were unable to revive the SUV driver, who died shortly after arrival at the Emergency Department. A post mortem examination will be conducted by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office on Saturday, January 25, 2020.
The identity of the deceased was not initially released pending notification of the victim’s family.
The other driver was assessed, treated and released at the scene by Buffalo Grove Fire Department paramedics.
A preliminary at-scene investigation determined that the driver of the red SUV was traveling northbound on Arlington Heights Road, intending to turn left onto westbound Hintz Road. The driver of a yellow compact car was traveling southbound on Arlington Heights Road. On a Yellow traffic light, the driver of the red SUV executed a left hand turn, while the driver of the yellow compact car continued southbound into the intersection. When the SUV turned, it was struck by the compact car, causing significant damage to both vehicles on impact. An independent witness corroborated vehicular movements and the traffic light cycle.
Southbound Arlington Heights Road was closed at Brittany Drive. Traffic on westbound Hintz Road was all diverted to northbound Arlington Heights Road. Eastbound Hintz Road was blocked at Berkeley Drive, and thru-traffic on eastbound Hintz Road was blocked at Highland Avenue.
The roads in the area were closed for an extended crash investigation until 9:30 p.m. while Arlington Heights police crash investigators were assisted by the Major Case Assistance Team Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction team (MCAT-STAR). The intersection of Hintz Road and Arlington Heights Road needed to be partially closed during the investigation.
The investigation is ongoing following the on-scene investigation. The Speed Limit is 40 MPH on Arlington Heights Road — a 4-lane roadway with left turn lanes at the intersection where the crash occurred. A 35 MPH Speed Limit sign visible in the video is designated for eastbound Hintz Road, east of Arlington Heights Road.
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