VIDEO: Richards Building Supply Co. truck driver Johnny Henderson explains what happened Tuesday morning when an oncoming black Chevy Trailblazer was headed straight for his truck on Higgins Road between I-290/IL-53 and Arlington Heights Road [Video used with permission of Captured News].
Richards Building Supply Co. truck driver Johnny Henderson saw an oncoming black Chevy Trailblazer SS jump the median on Higgins Road Tuesday, and did everything he could to avoid a crash with his truck. Henderson was eastbound on Higgins Road east of I-290/IL53 transporting a load of building supplies at about 9:27 a.m. Tuesday when a head-on crash with a westbound Chevy Trailblazer SS occurred.
After the crash, Henderson jumped out of his truck and carried the truck’s fire extinguisher to come to the aid of the driver of the Chevy Trailblazer. Henderson said his first instinct was to get out and save her life. When he came to her side, he discovered the woman driving the SUV was in excruciating pain. He also discovered smoke, and then flames, coming from the engine compartment. He was able to knock back the fire, and then went to reassure the woman that the fire was stopped, and that the fire department was on the way. Henderson said he and another motorist reassured the woman that help was on the way.
Elk Grove Village firefighter/paramedics responded with an extrication response when they learned that a woman was trapped in her SUV. Firefighters arrived by 9:32 a.m. and went to work on extrication and complete extinguishment of the engine compartment fire. Since all eastbound lanes were blocked and the westbound lanes of Higgins Road were also backed up, firefighters were able to travel westbound in the eastbound lanes to the crash scene.
Police shut down westbound Higgins Road at Arlington Heights Road and eastbound Higgins Road at I-290/IL-53 Frontage Road.
The SUV fire was marked completely extinguished at 9:35 a.m. The female driver was extricated by 9:46 a.m. and was initially believed to have non-life-threatening injuries at the scene. She was transported to Alexian Brothers Medical Center (not confirmed).
Elk Grove Village Police and Illinois State Police were on the scene for traffic control. Illinois State Police are investigating the crash.
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