A collision Wednesday afternoon between an inmate transport van and another vehicle led to nineteen individuals being evaluated at local hospitals, according to Grayslake police. The crash occurred at the intersection of Illinois Route 120 and Hainesville Road. "The transport van was headed west on Illinois Route 120 when it came into contact with a vehicle attempting to turn onto northbound Hainesville Road from eastbound Route 120," Grayslake Police Chief Jeff Myhra told Chicago Tribune. Though no one was seriously injured, the crash prompted requests from nearby fire departments for additional ambulance support due to the number of people needing evaluation.
The van contained sixteen Lake County inmates and was en route to McHenry County at the time of the incident. Struck after the collision by a pole, the response from first responders necessitated backup from 15 fire departments, indicating the scale of the emergency. "We got inside, started to assess and realized we were going to have a mass casualty incident with a number of patients," Deputy Chief Joe Krueger of the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District explained to WGN-TV. According to Krueger's assessment, two individuals sustained serious injuries, eleven had moderate injuries, and the remainder were "walking wounded."
The encompasses transport van also two McHenry County Correctional Officers, mentioned as part of the nineteen evaluated. The aftermath of the collision saw traffic at the intersection being affected for a brief period. As for the cause of the accident, which took place shortly before 1 p.m., the Grayslake Police Department has stated that it remains under investigation.
While this incident did not result in any fatalities, it underscores the risks inherent in the transportation of inmates and the potential consequences when things go awry. The Grayslake Police Department is handling the investigation into the 1:30 p.m. crash, said Grayslake Police Chief Jeff Myhra. No further details have been released regarding the cause, but updates may be provided as the investigation continues.
