Lake in the Hills, IL — April 9, 2025, Three people were injured following a car accident that occurred at around 2:50 P.M. on Algonquin Rd.

An investigation is underway following a car accident that left three people injured during the afternoon hours of April 9th. According to official reports the three vehicle accident occurred in the intersection of Algonquin Road and Lakewood Road, however the exact cause of the crash is currently unknown.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they found that one of the vehicles had caught fire, and that three people had sustained serious injuries and were transported to the hospital for treatment. At this time there has been no further information released from the accident, including the status of those injuries, or the identities of those involved. However this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released by authorities in the future.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a multi-vehicle crash results in serious injuries and a post-impact fire, it's clear that something went seriously wrong—and that the investigation needs to address more than just who had the right of way. To fully understand what happened, three key questions need to be answered: (1) Did the authorities conduct a thorough and detailed investigation? (2) Has anyone looked into whether a vehicle defect contributed to the crash or its aftermath? (3) Has all the electronic data from the involved vehicles been collected and preserved?

At a busy intersection like this one, the interaction of traffic signals, turning movements, and visibility all come into play. Investigators should examine whether any vehicles ran a red light, attempted an unsafe turn, or experienced difficulty stopping. Lane markings, signal timing, and nearby obstructions also need to be documented in detail to rule out or confirm any external factors.

Equally important is the condition and performance of each vehicle involved. When a fire occurs after a crash, it raises the question of whether there was a fuel system vulnerability or electrical fault that made the fire more likely. Investigators should examine the crash damage carefully to see whether a defect or mechanical issue made the situation worse than it needed to be.

Finally, electronic control modules (ECMs) may hold crucial data from all three vehicles. These systems can reveal how fast the vehicles were traveling, whether the drivers braked or steered before the collision, and whether the vehicles' systems performed correctly under pressure. In a crash involving multiple vehicles and severe outcomes, this kind of data is critical—and must be collected before it’s lost or overwritten.

Until these three areas are fully explored, the full cause of the crash remains unclear. A complete investigation is the only way to uncover whether this was purely the result of human error or if mechanical or systemic issues also played a part. That process is essential to both understanding this crash and preventing future ones.