3 Seriously Injured, 5 Hospitalized After Two-vehicle Crash Near Union Amid Whiteout Conditions

Three persons were badly injured in a crash near Union on Sunday morning, and five were rushed to hospitals.

Just before 9:30 a.m., the Marengo Fire & Rescue District and the Union Fire Protection District were dispatched to a reported two-vehicle crash near the intersection of North Union Road and Route 176, according to Marengo Fire & Rescue District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha.

Crews were alerted en route that bystander CPR was being performed on one of the crash victims.

The accident occurred on Route 176 about a half-mile east of the interchange. Vucha stated that the roads were coated in snow at the time, and there were whiteout conditions.

When firefighters got at the scene, they discovered a two-vehicle crash with significant damage and several victims, according to Vucha.
A medical helicopter was sought but could not react due to the weather, so fire workers increased the demand for extra ambulances, according to Vucha.

Vucha said five people were taken to nearby hospitals; three were seriously hurt, one was in serious condition, and one had minor injuries. Another person denied medical treatment.

Ambulances from Crystal Lake, Harvard, Huntley, and Woodstock were on the scene, while Nunda Rural provided coverage for the Marengo station during the crash, according to Vucha.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office is looking into the crash.