Two members of an Orland Park family were killed and a third seriously injured Tuesday afternoon in a crash in Homer Glen that injured three other people, according to Will County sheriff’s police.
Police said the 77-year-old man and 73-year-old woman who died were both passengers in a Hyundi that was struck head-on and then caught fire in the three-vehicle crash on 143rd Street just west of Hillcrest Road. The Hyundi driver, a 49-year-old woman, suffered extensive injuries and was first taken to a hospital in critical condition but was to be transferred to a Chicago hospital, according to the sheriff’s office.
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The crash occurred just before 5:30 p.m., and a preliminary investigation indicates a Nissan SUV driven by Chris Haramija, 37, of Joliet, was traveling west on 143rd Street when he went into oncoming traffic, police said. The Nissan first struck a Lincoln SUV, driven by a 55-year-old man who refused medical treatment at the scene, and then struck the Hyundai head on causing the engine compartment to catch fire and engulf into flames.
Haramija was taken to an area hospital with multiple injuries, and later cited for improper lane use, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and transportation of open alcohol, the sheriff’s office reported Wednesday morning. His front seat passenger, a 41-year-old man, suffered extensive injuries and was listed in critical condition and a 33-year-old man in the back seat passenger, a male, age 33, was also taken to an area hospital with multiple injuries, police said.
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The man in the passenger seat of the Hyundi was taken to Silver Cross Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. The woman, riding in the back seat, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Northwest Homer Fire, Homer Fire and Lemont Fire personnel were on scene to assist the seven people who were involved in the crash and were suffering from multiple injuries.
mnolan@tribpub.com
