Two Killed in High-Speed Crash with Fire on Lake Cook Road East of Northgate Parkway Wheeling

Crash investigation scene following a fatal crash with fire on Lake Cook Road east of Northgate Parkway.

Police and firefighter/paramedics from Wheeling responded about 7:41 p.m. Tuesday June 23, 2020 to a report of a serious crash with possible ejection and entrapment on Lake Cook Road east of Northgate Parkway.

Engine 42’s crew on arrival reported on vehicle fully involved with fire, a vehicle split in half, and extrication underway.

One driver was dead at the scene, one driver died at a nearby hospital and another driver was listed in serious condition with injuries that were initially believed to be non-life-threatening.

According to a witness at the scene, a male crash victim was obviously dead at the scene. The witness also reported that firefighter/paramedics attempted to resuscitate a female victim, who had been trapped in a silver SUV, with CPR and Advanced Life Support. The female victim was transported to NorthShore Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview, where she was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m.

Deerfield police, Buffalo Grove police, and Lincolnshire-Riverwoods firefighter/paramedics assisted Wheeling rescuers at or near the crash scene.

After finding two vehicles with heavy damage and one vehicle on fire at the scene, rescuers found a third vehicle in a small area of woods along the south side shoulder of Lake Cook Road.

Preliminary investigation indicated that there was initially a rear-end collision involving two vehicles in the westbound lanes of Lake-Cook. After impact, one of the vehicles crossed the center line into the eastbound lanes, crashing with a vehicle that was eastbound.

The male driver that was dead at the scene was ejected when the entire seat broke loose from the vehicle.

The female in the silver SUV, who died at NorthShore Glenbrook Hospital, was identified as Brenda L. Felix Soria, 49, of Inverness.

The third driver, hospitalized in serious condition, was in the vehicle that came to rest in the woods. Police reported there were no passengers in any of the vehicles.

Observation of the damaged vehicles at the scene, the amount of debris at the scene, and an impact zone located considerably east of the location of the wrecked vehicles, indicates that the crash involved high speed. The Speed Limit at the location is 45 MPH. There was heavy rain at the time of the crash, according to witnesses. Early photos at the scene showed wet pavement.

Lake Cook Road near the scene of the crash is seven lanes across, including a left turn lane to access a driveway on the north side of Lake Cook Road.

Police said they are asking for assistance from the public, especially witnesses to the crash, or anyone who may have captured the crash images on dash camera video.

The Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team of the Northwest Suburban Major Case Assistance Team (MCAT-STAR) was activated to assist Wheeling Police Department with the investigation.

Lake Cook Road was closed between Milwaukee Avenue and Lexington Drive overnight until about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Traffic from Northgate Parkway was permitted to travel westbound on Lake Cook Road.

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