“Head-On Collision” Injures Two Drivers In Naperville

There was a head-on collision Sunday morning (June 7, 2015) in Naperville in which two motorists were injured.

According to Naperville Police, the accident happened at approximately 6:45 a.m., and involved a Mercury that was heading southbound on Raymond Drive near Queensgreen Circle.  At that time, the Mercury crossed into the opposing (northbound) lanes and hit a 2005 Honda “head on.”

The driver of the Honda, a 33-year-old woman, was pinned in her car and had to be extricated.  She, along with the driver of the Mercury, were then taken to Edward Hospital for treatment of their accident injuries.

The driver of the Mercury was identified as Sholanda M. Harris, 35, of Aurora.

An excerpt from the June 7, 2015 Chicago Sun-Times article titled “Police:  DUI driver causes serious head-on crash in Naperville“:

Harris, of west suburban Aurora, was charged with a DUI and improper lane usage, police said.

Those who may have witnessed the collision or have additional information are asked to call the Naperville Police Department’s Traffic Unit at (630) 305-5379 or contact via email at [email protected].

Additional details and possible updates concerning this DuPage County accident can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the Chicago Sun-Times article mentioned above, as well as the June 7 Naperville Patch article titled “2 Injured in Naperville Crash.”

Road Conditions Warning For Chicago Area

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has issued a news release (“Heavy Snowfall, Strong Winds to Create Hazardous Conditions Tonight and Super Bowl Sunday”) on January 31, 2015 regarding expected hazardous road conditions caused by high anticipated snowfall, including blizzard conditions.  While heavy snowfall is expected throughout Illinois, the highest level of snow should fall in the Chicago area, including DuPage County.

A few excerpts from the release:

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced today that a winter storm anticipated to deliver heavy snowfall, strong winds and the potential for blowing and drifting snow will create hazardous driving conditions tonight and Sunday. Motorists should be alert for slick roadways, take extra precautions when driving and consider traveling only if it is necessary.

also:

National Weather Service forecasters are predicting 8 to 10 inches of snow across much of northern Illinois starting tonight and into Sunday, with 10 to 14 inches in the Chicago area, 3 to 6 inches in the central part of the state and 2 inches or less in southern Illinois. Gusty northeast windsSunday afternoon and evening could produce blowing and drifting snow, significantly reducing visibility. Throughout the day today, IDOT has been pretreating bridge decks and elevated driving surfaces that are susceptible to icing.

also:

“Public safety is every driver’s responsibility. Motorists should take every precaution, reduce their speeds and avoid unnecessary travel to help keep roads safe,” said state police Col. Mike Zerbonia. “Avoiding distractions and keeping extra distance between vehicles will help when navigating through snow and ice conditions.”

The news release also contains a variety of recommended safety tips, including a warning concerning “black ice.”

Additional details can be seen in the IDOT news release mentioned above, and details regarding the anticipated snowstorm, including blizzard and potential “whiteout” conditions, can be seen in the February 1 Chicago Tribune article titled “Blizzard warning expected for Chicago area; Hundreds of flights canceled” as well as the Naperville Patch article of February 1, 2015 titled “‘Extraordinary Dangerous’ Travel Conditions as Blizzard Warning Issued for Chicago Area.”

Car Crashes Into Tree In Villa Park, Illinois

There was a DuPage County crash on November 28, 2014 in Villa Park, Illinois for which a man has now been charged with aggravated drunk driving.

The accident happened at approximately 4:30 a.m. in the 600 block of West Plymouth.  At that time, a man driving a 2005 Ford Explorer struck a tree, injuring both the driver and a passenger, and causing substantial damage – as seen in the picture – to the Ford Explorer.

Both the driver and passenger were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

The driver was identified as Jose A. Ortiz-Barocio, 25, of Villa Park.

An excerpt from the December 9, 2014 Daily Herald article titled “Villa Park man charged with DUI after crash“:

Jose A. Ortiz-Barocio, 25, has been charged with felony aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol and with no valid driver’s license, according to a statement released Tuesday by the Villa Park Police Department.

Additional details and possible updates concerning this DuPage County crash can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the Daily Herald article mentioned above, as well as the December 10 mysuburbanlife.com article titled “Villa Park man charged with DUI after crashing car into tree.”

Warrenville Three-Vehicle Accident With Injuries

There was a DuPage County 3-car accident Monday afternoon (October 20, 2014) in Warrenville.

Warrenville Police responded to the accident at approximately 2:15 p.m., which happened at the intersection of Butterfield and Batavia Roads.

An excerpt from the City of Warrenville press release of October 21, 2014 titled “Police Investigate Motor Vehicle Crash“:

The investigation revealed the driver of vehicle one, which was heading westbound on Butterfield Road, traveled through a red light and struck vehicle two, which was traveling southeast on Batavia Road. The collision propelled vehicle two into a third vehicle that was stopped for the eastbound Butterfield Road traffic signal.

In the course of the accident, the first driver sustained minor injuries.  The driver of the second vehicle had to be extricated, and was then taken to Cadence Hospital in Winfield.  The driver of the third vehicle was also taken to Cadence Hospital for treatment of injuries.

These accident injuries are considered to be non-life-threatening.

Charges are pending against the driver of the first vehicle.

Additional details and possible updates concerning this DuPage County accident with injuries can be seen in the City of Warrenville press release mentioned above, as well as the October 21 Chicago Tribune article titled “Two injured in Warrenville car crash.”

DuPage County Four-Vehicle Crash With Injuries

There was a four-vehicle accident in Naperville on Thursday night (October 16, 2014).  One driver is charged with driving under the influence (DUI) as part of the accident.

That driver has been identified as Monica F. Bull, 43, of Naperville.

The accident happened at approximately 11:18 p.m. Thursday night at the intersection of 95th Street and Wildcat Way.  Details regarding the accident are somewhat limited.

At least one person was injured during the crash.  That person was taken to Edward Hospital in Naperville.

Additional details and possible updates concerning this DuPage County crash can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the October 17, 2014 Naperville Sun article titled “Police investigate crash across from Neuqua” as well as the October 20 CBS Chicago article titled “Naperville Woman Charged With Driving In Four-Vehicle Crash.”

Fatal Truck Accident In Warrenville

There was a fatal DuPage County truck accident in Warrenville on Friday afternoon (August 8, 2014).

According to Warrenville Police, the accident happened at approximately 12:40 p.m. as the cement truck was traveling north on Winfield Road near Greenview Avenue.  At that time, the cement truck crossed into the southbound lanes and struck a tree.

The truck’s driver was taken to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.  According to the DuPage County Coroner’s Office, he was pronounced dead at 1:28 p.m.

The truck driver was identified as Jon Swanson, 50, of Earlville.

An excerpt from the August 9, 2014 Daily Herald article titled “Truck driver, 50, dies after hitting tree in Warrenville“:

Police believe Swanson had a medical emergency and lost control of the truck.

Additional details and possible updates concerning this DuPage County truck accident can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the Daily Herald article mentioned above, as well as the August 9 Chicago Tribune TribLocal article titled “Driver dies after crash of cement truck in Warrenville.”

Lawsuits Filed Over Naperville Pedestrian Accident

There have been two Illinois personal injury lawsuits filed over a Naperville pedestrian accident that happened on July 12, 2013.  The underlying accident involved a car that struck two pedestrians during a Waubonsie Valley High School driver’s education class.

The teen driver from Naperville was 15 years old at the time of the accident.  According to the police accident report, the accident happened after the teen driver made a right-hand and  “somehow kept pressing the gas pedal instead of the brake” and lost control of the car.  The car jumped the curb, ran over a parking sign, and then struck two female pedestrians, including a mother who was pushing a stroller.

While the mother was able to push the stroller away from the oncoming car, both women were injured and taken to Edward Hospital and Health Services in Naperville for treatment of injuries.

The other victim (the one not with the stroller) claims in the lawsuit that she sustained injuries “to her muscles, bones and nervous system.”

An excerpt from the TribLocal Naperville & Lisle article of July 15, 2014, titled “Naperville student sued for striking pedestrians in driver’s ed class“:

The student driver, now 16, was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and improper lane usage, according to the police report and court records. The latter ticket was dismissed, and she was placed on court supervision and fined more than $300 for failing to reduce speed, records state.

Additional details and possible updates concerning these lawsuits concerning a DuPage County pedestrian accident can be seen in a variety of media sources including the TribLocal article mentioned above, as well as the July 17 Naperville Patch article titled “Naperville Teen Sued for Hitting Two Pedestrians During Driver’s Ed Class.”