Chaotic scene after a crash, vehicle fire, foot pursuit and six ambulances were dispatched to the scene on Rand Road just north of Windslow Drive in Palatine Thursday morning, May 9, 2024 (CARDINAL NEWS). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Police, firefighters and paramedics from Palatine responded about 10:54 a.m. Thursday, May 9, 2024 to a crash with injuries on Rand Road just northwest of Winslowe Drive in Palatine near Walmart.
The crash was captured on surveillance video and shows a police vehicle with lights activated following the crashed vehicles a few seconds later. The driver of a black Honda CRV recklessly swerved to avoid a vehicle by then lost control and crash into the rear end of a GMC Tahoe. The Palatine Police Department reported in a news release that on Thursday May 9, 2024 at approximately 10:52 a.m., Palatine police officers responded to a traffic crash involving five vehicles on north Rand Road (US12) between East Dundee Road and Winslowe Drive in Palatine.
As of Thursday night, we don’t know if the police officer in the police SUV captured on surveillance video just happened to witness the reckless driving by the driver of the black Honda CRV and crash, or if the police were following the black Honda CRV and attempting to make a traffic stop.
The Palatine Police Department confirmed that a total of four adult people from the crash were transported to local area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The injured parties included a male, age 20 and a male age 22 from a black Honda CRV; and a female, age 53 and a female, age 59 from a tan GMC Tahoe. There four victims were from the main crash of the black Honda CRV and the tan GMC Tahoe.
Two witnesses told CARDINAL NEWS that a young female adult was also injured in a small white car that was hit by the GMC Tahoe that had been rear-ended by the black Honda CRV. Two witness said the female victim in the white car had a large bump on her forehead; and another witness said she told him that she drove forward away from the crash scene when she noticed one or both vehicles of the initial crash were on fire, and that she feared the fire that was developing. Cell phone video provided by restaurant customers nearby confirmed that there was at least one vehicle on fire with black smoke showing. The fire was immediately extinguished, and significant fire damage was not visible on either of those two vehicles.
Big thanks to everyone who provided tips remotely, provided information at the scene, provided interviews, and who provided cell phone video.
The cell phone video also showed police struggling down on the street with one of the occupants of the black Honda CRV.
One of the six rescue ambulance paramedic crews that were dispatched was assigned to assess a police officer that was possibly injured on the scene.
Palatine fire command summarily reported four vehicles were involved with eight patients. Six of the patients were transported and two of the patients were EMS refusals. Three paramedic rescue ambulances from Palatine were assigned to the scene. Two paramedic rescue ambulances from Arlington Heights were assigned to the scene, and one paramedic rescue ambulance from Lake Zurich was assigned to the scene.
One of the crash victims in the black Honda CRV, a young male/black, ran into the automotive strip mall south of the scene and attempted to hide inside R&M Performance Auto Care. His fleeing on foot was reported by several witness, and was captured on surveillance video that was retrieved by WGN News and ABC 7 Chicago news crews.
Interview of witness who saw police with a male suspect who fled a crash scene on Rand Road near an automotive strip mall near Walmart in Palatine Thursday morning, May 9, 2024 (CARDINAL NEWS). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Police officers followed the suspect that fled into R&M, handcuffed him and took him into custody. He was transferred in custody to a Palatine Fire Department ambulance. Another one of the crash victims from the Honda CRV was handcuffed, and was lying on the street next to the rear wheel of the Honda CRV. He was immobilized with a cervical collar, and placed on a backboard and transferred to another Palatine Fire Department ambulance. While the handcuffed male was lying in the street, police announced that a gun was located. A WGN helicopter crew overhead provided video capture of police investigators recovering an extended clip, and then a handgun from the black Honda CRV.
Gun found in black Honda CRV after multi-vehicle crash on Rand Road near Walmart in Palatine (Dana Rebik/WGN News). YouTube Tips ⓘ
The Palatine Police Department continues investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the cause of the crash. From observations at the scene, it also appeared that Cook County Sheriff’s deputies were investigating the scene.
North Rand Road was closed between Dundee Road and Winslowe Drive for approximately 90 minutes due to the crash and investigation.
According to the Palatine Police Department, the Arlington Heights Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office assisted in traffic control. Arlington Heights police had a K-9 on the scene, but it did not appear that the K-9 was involved in any searches or evidence work.
Another young male was arrested on the southeast side of Rand Road when police were searching for surveillance video evidence from nearby businesses. Apparently that person was wanted by police for a separate matter, and was recognized by police officers. The male was handcuffed and transferred to a police SUV in custody.
Big thanks to everyone who provided tips remotely, provided information at the scene, provided interviews, and who provided cell phone video.
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