Kane County, IL — March 9, 2025, Two people were killed following a car accident that occurred at around 9:45 P.M. on Plank Road.

An investigation is underway following a car accident that left two people dead and injured two more during the evening hours of March 9th. According to official reports, a Ford F-150 was travelling on Plank Road in the westbound lanes, when the vehicle swerved to avoid a deer in the road, but ultimately striking it and then veering into the oncoming lane where the pickup struck a GMC Sierra head-on. After the impact with the Sierra, the F-150 was the struck by an oncoming Dodge Ram which caused the Ford to catch on fire, trapping the occupants inside.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they found that the driver of the Ford and GMC, identified as Vance Peterson and Yahir Porcayo-Porcayo respectively, had sustained serious injuries and they were transported to the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile two passengers of the GMC, Erick Garcia-Porcayo and  Rosalio Porcayo-Porcayo had suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased. At this time there has been no further information released from the accident, including the status of Peterson and Porcayo's injuries, however this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released by authorities in the future.

Commentary

When I read about a crash like this, my first thought is that I hope the injured individuals receive the care they need and that the loved ones of those who lost their lives get the answers they deserve. While it may seem like a straightforward case of a vehicle swerving to avoid a deer and triggering a chain reaction, my experience has shown that multi-vehicle crashes often have underlying factors that aren’t immediately obvious. Before drawing any conclusions, it’s essential to ask three key questions to ensure a full and thorough investigation.

The first question is whether authorities conducted a comprehensive investigation. Law enforcement officers typically document the scene, take witness statements, and assess visible evidence, but in a crash involving multiple vehicles, piecing together what happened can be complex. Investigators should determine whether road conditions, lighting, or any other external factors contributed to the sequence of events. Additionally, given that the Ford caught fire, authorities should examine whether the impact itself caused the fire or if a mechanical issue played a role in making the vehicle more susceptible to ignition.

The second question—one that is often overlooked—is whether a mechanical defect contributed to the crash. While it’s clear that the Ford swerved to avoid a deer, investigators should consider whether a braking issue, steering malfunction, or stability control failure played a role in why the vehicle veered into oncoming traffic instead of regaining control. Additionally, modern vehicles are designed to withstand impacts without catching fire. If a fuel system failure or electrical issue contributed to the fire, that could be a crucial factor in determining whether the severity of the crash was worsened by a mechanical defect. However, identifying such issues requires a forensic examination of the vehicles, and if they are not preserved, key evidence may be lost before it can be properly analyzed.

The third question is whether all available electronic data has been collected. Most modern vehicles are equipped with an electronic control module (ECM), which records crucial information such as speed, braking, and steering input leading up to the crash. Additionally, nearby surveillance cameras, dashcam recordings, or even cell phone data from the drivers could provide valuable insight into what happened. Since electronic data can be lost or overwritten if not secured quickly, investigators must act fast to preserve this critical evidence.

At the end of the day, answering these three questions isn’t just about understanding how this crash happened—it’s about ensuring that the injured individuals and the families of those who lost their lives have access to the full truth. Serious crashes leave people searching for clarity, and the least we can do as a community is make sure that every possible explanation is explored before reaching any conclusions.