ALGONQUIN, McHenry County, Ill., Oct. 6, 2026 — A man was seriously injured Monday afternoon, October 5, when a sports car he was driving reportedly lost control and set off a five-vehicle crash that shut down a stretch of Route 31 in Algonquin. A woman involved in the crash suffered minor injuries, according to the Algonquin Police Department.
Officers and crews from the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District responded around 1:43 p.m. to the Route 31 bypass near the Route 62 bridge after reports of a crash with injuries. Northbound Route 31 had to be closed because vehicles were blocking the roadway.
A preliminary investigation, which included witness accounts, found a yellow Toyota MR2 Spyder driven by a 62-year-old Lake in the Hills man was heading northbound on Route 31 near the Route 62 overpass when the driver reportedly lost control of the car. Burzynski said the Toyota struck the raised center median and then collided with several vehicles traveling southbound before coming to rest back in the northbound lanes.
Five vehicles were involved in the crash, including the Toyota. Two ambulances were sent to the scene, and the Toyota driver was taken to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital with injuries described as serious but believed to be non-life-threatening. A woman involved in the crash was also taken to the same hospital with minor injuries.
Northbound Route 31 stayed closed for about two hours while crews cleared the scene and investigators worked the crash. Police had urged drivers to avoid the area because of backups before announcing around 4:15 p.m. that the road was clear.
The crash remains under investigation by the Algonquin Police Department's Crash Investigations Team. We hope everyone who was hurt makes a speedy recovery.
Chain-Reaction Crashes by the Numbers
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 365 large-truck occupants were killed in multi-vehicle crashes involving large trucks in 2023. That figure reflects a broader pattern seen in multi-vehicle collisions generally: once one vehicle loses control or strikes a barrier, the vehicles around it often have only seconds to react, and the number of people hurt tends to climb with each additional car pulled into the crash.
Multi-vehicle crashes are different from single-car collisions because the outcome depends heavily on traffic density and following distance at the moment the first vehicle goes off course. A car striking a median or guardrail can bounce back into travel lanes, as investigators describe happening in some cases, putting oncoming or adjacent traffic directly in its path.
Highway medians, overpasses, and bridge approaches are common sites for these events because speeds are higher and there's less room to maneuver. Investigators typically rely on witness statements, roadway evidence, and vehicle damage patterns to reconstruct how the first vehicle lost control and how the collisions that followed unfolded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do chain-reaction crashes happen?
They usually start with one vehicle losing control, stopping suddenly, or crossing into another lane. Vehicles behind or beside it often don't have enough time or space to stop or steer clear, pulling more cars into the collision.
How can drivers avoid being caught in a pile-up?
Keeping a safe following distance, staying alert near medians and overpasses, and reducing speed in heavy traffic all give drivers more time to react if a vehicle ahead suddenly loses control.
What should I do if I'm stopped near a crash on the highway?
Turn on hazard lights, stay in the vehicle if it's safe to do so, and move as far from traffic lanes as possible. Watch for emergency vehicles and follow any instructions from officers directing traffic.
How does fog or low visibility contribute to pile-ups?
Reduced visibility shortens the time drivers have to see trouble ahead and react, which is part of why pile-ups often involve several vehicles arriving at a crash scene in quick succession.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Algonquin, IL
If you're involved in or witness a multi-vehicle crash, move to safety if possible and call 911 right away. Even if injuries seem minor at first, it's worth getting checked by a medical professional, since some injuries from a crash don't show symptoms immediately.
Cooperate with responding officers and give an honest account of what you saw or experienced. If you witnessed a crash like this one in Algonquin, local police often ask for tips to help piece together exactly how the collision unfolded. Keep any documentation, such as photos of the scene or contact information for other witnesses, in case it's needed later.
