Crime & Safety

Seven Teens Hospitalized After Hinsdale Car Crash

Four of the teens had "incapacitating" injuries Friday night, according to police officials.

Updated at 6:14 p.m.

Seven teens were transported to area hospitals Friday night after the SUV they were in reportedly rolled over and hit a tree and utility pole near the intersection of Park and 4th streets in Hinsdale, Hinsdale Police Department and Hinsdale Fire Department officials said Monday.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene of the one-car accident at 7:37 p.m. Friday night. A Toyota Sequoia driven by a 16-year-old Hinsdale juvenile and carrying seven juvenile passengers rolled over after hitting the curb while making a “sudden and abrupt left turn” from southbound Park to eastbound 4th, Deputy Hinsdale Police Chief Mark Wodka said.

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Based on damage done to both objects, officials believe the SUV hit a tree and wooden light pole in the parkway.

Seven of the eight teens in the vehicle, including the driver, were transported to area hospitals. 

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“Four of the injuries are classified as incapacitating, and two of the injuries are classified as non-incapacitating,” Wodka said.

Wodka said the seventh patient transported had injuries that were reported but not evident.

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Hinsdale firefighter Steve Tullis said two of the patients, one boy and one girl, were in critical condition when responders arrived. They had been taken out of the vehicle by the time paramedics were on the scene.

"Both critical victims laid motionless when we arrived, one along the curb and one along the parkway," Tullis said.

The SUV was upright when responders arrived, but heavy damage to the top of the vehicle suggest a rollover occurred. 

Wodka said six of the eight juveniles in the vehicle were from Hinsdale and two were from Clarendon Hills. Five of the injured teens were taken to Adventist Hinsdale Hospital and two were taken to Good Samaritan.

Patch does not have any info on the patients' current statuses. District 86 Superintentendent Nick Wahl said Monday night that all of the teens were Hinsdale Central students. 

The driver was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision and transporting too many passengers as a young driver.

“At this time, we are continuing to investigate the crash,” Wodka said. “Although there is no preliminary signs of foul play, an investigation is still on-going to determine the facts and circumstances that may have contributed to the crash.” 

The deputy chief said for the first year that a driver under 18 is licensed, they can only have one passenger under the age of 20 who’s not an immediate family member.

“After this period, the number of passengers is limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat,” Wodka said.

Editor's note: This story earlier said that six of the teens were taken to the hospital. Wodka reported Monday afternoon that there was indeed seven transports.


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