MARENGO, McHenry County, Ill., Oct. 14, 2026 — A man was ejected and flown to a hospital in critical condition Monday morning, October 12, after two pickup trucks collided at the intersection of East Coral Road and South Union Road near Marengo, and one rolled over while towing a trailer. Two teenagers in the vehicles were also hurt, according to local fire officials.
The McHenry County Sheriff's Office, Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts and Union Fire Protection District were called around 9:28 a.m. in Coral Township, between Marengo and Union, for a crash with entrapment. Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said crews found two pickup trucks with heavy damage when they arrived. One of the trucks had rolled over while towing a flatbed trailer, and the crash also damaged a nearby utility pole.
Rescuers located a man in a field about 30 feet from the vehicles, believed to have been thrown from the truck when it rolled. He was reportedly unconscious at the scene. A medical helicopter was called in because of the severity of his injuries, and he was flown to Javon Bea Hospital, Riverside in Rockford, Illinois, in critical condition.
A teenager riding in the overturned truck and a teenage driver of the other truck were both evaluated at the scene and taken to local hospitals with minor injuries. ComEd crews were called in to cut power to the damaged utility pole so emergency responders could keep working safely.
Coral and Union roads were closed in all directions for several hours during the investigation and remained shut as of 3:30 p.m. Monday.
The crash stays under investigation. We wish the injured a speedy recovery.
Why Rollover Crashes Often Involve Impairment or Fatigue
Rollovers tend to happen when a vehicle's path suddenly changes, a hard swerve, an overcorrection, or a collision that pushes a truck off its intended line. Trucks towing trailers are especially vulnerable because the added weight and length shift the center of gravity and make the vehicle harder to control once it starts to tip. A driver who is drowsy or impaired reacts slower to that kind of sudden instability, and a split-second delay can turn a near-miss into a rollover.
Fatigue and impairment share a common thread: both slow reaction time and narrow a driver's attention right when quick corrections matter most. Investigators looking at any rollover typically examine whether the driver was alert, whether speed played a role, and how the vehicle was loaded, since a poorly balanced trailer can make a truck less stable even at legal speeds.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 54 percent of young passenger-vehicle drivers killed with known restraint use were unrestrained in 2023. That figure is a reminder that what happens in the seconds after a vehicle loses control, whether someone is belted in or thrown clear, often determines how survivable the crash becomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What injuries are most common in car accidents like this one?
Rollover and ejection crashes often cause head and spinal injuries, broken bones and internal injuries. Occupants who remain inside the vehicle and are restrained generally fare better than those thrown from the vehicle.
What typically causes a vehicle to roll over?
Rollovers often follow a sharp steering input, a collision that pushes the vehicle sideways, or a loss of control at higher speeds. Trucks and trailers are more prone to tipping because of their higher center of gravity.
How does speed affect how severe a crash is?
Higher speeds give a driver less time to react and increase the force involved in a crash, which raises the likelihood of rollover, ejection and serious injury.
Why is distracted or drowsy driving especially dangerous?
A driver who is distracted or fatigued takes longer to notice a hazard and respond, which matters most in the seconds before a crash when a quick correction could prevent a rollover or collision.
What to Do After a Rollover Car Accident in Marengo, Illinois
If you're involved in a rollover crash, stay as still as possible until emergency responders arrive, especially if you feel neck or back pain. Call 911 even if injuries seem minor, since symptoms like internal bleeding or concussion can take hours to appear. Seek a full medical evaluation afterward, and keep records of any treatment. If you witness a crash like this, stay back from damaged power lines or leaking fluids and let trained crews handle the scene.
