Police, firefighters and paramedics from Arlington Heights responded about 2:00 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2022 to a report of a serious crash with injuries at Golf Road and Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights. A 9-1-1 caller reported that a two-vehicle crash occurred, and that one person was unresponsive in a vehicle that was pushed up into the Mobil gas station property by the impact of the crash. The Mobil gas station is located at the northwest corner of the intersection.
UPDATE …
Driver Charged in Fatal Crash at Arlington Heights Rd and Golf Rd Arlington Heights
Police, firefighters, and paramedics on arrival discovered two vehicles with severe damage. The driver in the vehicle on the Mobil gas station property was killed in the crash, according to the Arlington Heights Police Department.
The driver of the other vehicle, which came to rest facing northbound in the southbound lanes of Arlington Heights Road was injured, and was transported to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.
A second ambulance was dispatched about 2:05 a.m., and a rescue squad was also assigned to the call at 2:07 a.m. A traffic signal control box was struck on the northwest corner of the intersection, and damage to the box caused failure of the traffic signals. ComEd was notified of a possible power failure, and Meade Electric was notified to restore function to the traffic signals. Arlington Heights Public Works personnel were assigned to set up barricades for prolonged lane closures for an extended crash investigation.
There was no extrication operation, according to Engine 3’s crew. The Rescue Squad “Squad 1” was likely assigned to assist with securing the scene regarding a damaged power structure and/or Advanced Life Support.
According to the Arlington Heights Police Department, using preliminary information from an at-scene witness, as well as other physical evidence, the driver of a 2006 Honda Accord was northbound on Arlington Heights Road, passing with a green traffic signal through the intersection with Golf Road, when the driver of a Nissan Sentra disobeyed the westbound red traffic signal, and struck the Honda Accord. With the Honda Accord impact on the passenger side, the impact forced the Honda Accord over the curb, into a traffic signal control box, and into the parking lot or apron of the Mobil gas station.
An autopsy for the driver of the Honda Accord was scheduled to be conducted by the Cook County Medical Examiner (CCME). The identity of the driver of the Honda Accord was initially withheld.
Arlington Heights Police Department did not describe whether the driver of the Nissan Sentra, a 24 year-old male from Des Plaines, was speeding; but provided that he is a suspect based on preliminary observations and evidence which led first responders to believe he was impaired by alcohol at the time of the crash. A video camera at the gas station facing southeast may have captured the crash impact. According to the Arlington Heights Police Department, additional evidence, as well as the ongoing technical accident investigation, will determine the direction of the criminal investigation.
Although thunderstorms were in the area, there was no confirmation regarding whether the pavement was damp or wet when the crash occurred. The heavier rain occurred later during the on-scene investigation. The NWS Office at O’Hare International Airport reported no rain before 4:51 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2022, but reported a total of 1.77 inches of rain from about 5:51 a.m. to 6:51 a.m.
The Specialized Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team associated with the northwest suburban Major Case Assistance Team (MCAT) was activated to respond to the crash scene and conduct an investigation. The unified command van for the Arlington Heights Police Department and Arlington Heights Fire Department was also assigned to the scene.
Police cleared the crashed vehicles from the scene by about 8:30 a.m. Lane closures at the intersection continued past 11:30 a.m. while Meade Electric worked on repair of the traffic signals.
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