Harvard, IL (March 14, 2026) – A woman sustained serious injuries following a two-vehicle crash on Thursday evening that shut down Route 14 near Harvard, according to fire officials.
Emergency crews from the Harvard Fire Protection District and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene at approximately 7:24 p.m. in the 19000 block of Illinois Route 14 in unincorporated Harvard, Illinois.
Authorities reported that the collision occurred south of Lembcke Road and involved two vehicles that sustained heavy damage. Firefighters arriving at the scene found both drivers outside their vehicles, and officials confirmed that each vehicle had only one occupant.
Emergency personnel evaluated both drivers before transporting them to hospitals for medical care. Officials said one female driver was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Rockford, Illinois, with serious injuries. The second female driver was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
Additional resources were requested to assist at the scene, including a second ambulance and a chief officer from the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District. The Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection District also provided station coverage during the incident.
Both directions of Illinois Route 14 were closed for nearly two hours while emergency crews treated the victims and worked to clear the damaged vehicles from the roadway.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.
We hope for a full recovery for those injured in this incident.
Two-Vehicle Crashes on Rural Highways Can Lead to Major Road Closures
Collisions on rural highways often result in significant traffic disruptions, especially when emergency crews need time and space to assist victims and investigate the crash.
Roadways such as Illinois Route 14 carry regional traffic through communities like Harvard, Illinois, and serious collisions can require full roadway closures while responders work at the scene.
Investigators typically review vehicle positioning, roadway conditions, and driver actions when examining crashes near intersections and rural stretches of highway, including areas around Lembcke Road.
