Teen critically injured in Harvard crash

Harvard, Ill. An 18-year-old local man sustained life-threatening injuries when his sedan crossed the center line and rolled over in unincorporated Harvard on Saturday night. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office identified alcohol and speed as suspected contributing factors in the collision.

Dispatchers received reports of the accident at approximately 10:51 p.m. Saturday in the 9800 block of Route 14. Officers and firefighters from the Harvard Fire Protection District responded to the scene. A preliminary investigation determined that the teen, driving a 2000 Honda Accord southbound, crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a northbound 2010 Lexus RX350.

Following the impact, the Honda left the roadway to the east and rolled multiple times. Firefighters initially struggled to locate the crash site before discovering the vehicles separated by roughly 400 feet. The damaged Honda sat upright in a field, while the Lexus remained in the roadway to the north.

Harvard Fire Protection District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha stated that paramedics found the teen alone in the field near the Honda with multiple traumatic injuries. A medical helicopter was requested shortly after 11 p.m. and transported the driver to Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital-Riverside in Rockford with critical injuries.

The Lexus was driven by a 55-year-old man from Delavan, Wisconsin, with two male passengers, aged 56 and 62, also from Delavan. An ambulance from the Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts evaluated the three men, who refused medical treatment at the scene and reported no injuries.

Route 14 remained closed in both directions between Hebron Road and Oak Grove Road for several hours. The highway reopened around 5:30 a.m. Sunday. The sheriff’s office has not released the teen’s identity or announced citations or charges as of Monday afternoon.

The Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit continues to investigate the incident. Initial reports suggested downed power lines, but crews determined there was no electrical hazard at the scene.