Arlington Heights crash: Driver killed, several others hurt
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - A crash late Saturday afternoon in Arlington Heights left one driver dead and several others wounded.
Serious Crash in Arlington Heights
What we know:
The collision occurred at the intersection of Lake Cook Road and Bloomington Avenue just before 4:30 p.m.
Arlington Heights police said a dark gray BMW M340i was traveling eastbound on Lake Cook Road at a high rate of speed when a brown 2002 Jeep Cherokee, pulling forward from a stop sign on Bloomington, entered the road.
The BMW struck the Jeep’s driver side in a T-bone collision, causing the Jeep to roll over several times before coming to a stop in the westbound parkway of Lake Cook Road. Authorities said the Jeep sustained heavy damage.
Fire officials removed the Jeep's driver, a 69-year-old Des Plaines man, the sole occupant, and began lifesaving treatment before transporting him to Lutheran General Hospital.
He was in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. On Sunday morning, police said he was pronounced deceased.
As of around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, the medical examiner identified the deceased man as Rafael Geronimo Mercado.
The BMW driver, an 18-year-old from Deer Park, and two teenage passengers were evaluated by paramedics but refused further care. They were picked up by family members and sought medical evaluation on their own, police said.
A third passenger was taken to a hospital by Palatine Fire Department with non-life-threatening injuries.
Road Closures :
Lake Cook Road is temporarily closed to east and westbound traffic, east of Route 53 to Wilke, according to authorities.
The closure is expected to last several hours as investigators process the scene.
The investigation is ongoing and we'll bring more updates as they become available.