St. Charles, IL — February 21, 2025, One person was killed and two were injured in a car accident at around 9:25 A.M. on Lincoln Highway.

An investigation is underway into a car accident that left one person dead, and injured two others during the morning hours of February 21st. According to official reports, a GMC and Kia were involved in an accident in the area of Lincoln Highway and Peck Road and resulted in a female occupant from the Kia being ejected.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they found that the ejected woman had sustained fatal injuries and later succumbed to her injuries, while the Kia passenger and a passenger from the GMC sustained serious injuries and they 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 injured and their identities, however this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released by authorities in the future.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I read about a crash like this, my first thought is that I hope investigators can provide clear answers for the loved ones of those involved. A collision that results in a vehicle occupant being ejected raises serious concerns about seat belt usage, vehicle safety features, and the circumstances leading up to the impact. While initial reports confirm what happened, they don’t necessarily explain why it happened. To truly understand the cause of the crash, three critical questions must be asked.

First, have authorities thoroughly investigated the crash? Law enforcement will typically document the scene, gather witness statements, and analyze factors such as road conditions, traffic signals, and vehicle speeds. However, deeper analysis is often necessary. Did one vehicle fail to yield, misjudge a turn, or run a red light? Were visibility issues, poor intersection design, or hazardous road conditions contributing factors? A full accident reconstruction could help determine the sequence of events that led to the crash.

Second, has anyone looked into the possibility of a vehicle defect? When a crash results in an ejection, it’s important to assess whether seat belts, airbags, and door latches functioned as intended. Some vehicles have structural weaknesses that make ejections more likely, even when seat belts are in use. Additionally, mechanical failures—such as brake malfunctions or unintended acceleration—could have played a role in the collision itself. If a defect contributed to the crash, preserving the vehicles for forensic analysis is critical before they are repaired or scrapped, as key evidence could be lost.

Third, has all electronic data relating to the crash been collected? The electronic control modules (ECMs) in both the GMC and Kia may provide key insights, including speed, braking attempts, and steering input before the collision. Additionally, nearby traffic cameras or surveillance footage from businesses along Lincoln Highway or Peck Road may have captured useful details. If investigators don’t secure this evidence quickly, it could be lost, making it much harder to determine exactly what led to the crash.

At the end of the day, the families of those involved deserve clear answers. If the official investigation leaves any gaps, independent experts may be needed to ensure that every possible factor is considered. Whether the cause was environmental, mechanical, or something else entirely, the community owes it to those affected to make sure all available evidence is carefully examined.