Crime & Safety
Des Plaines Police Hope Survivor Can Shed Light On Crash That Killed Arlington Heights Family
The 26-year-old Des Plaines man was a passenger in the Mercedes-Benz that collided with the family's vehicle last week.
DES PLAINES, IL — The investigation into last week's tragic crash that killed four people, including three members of an Arlington Heights family continues as Des Plaines police detectives wait to talk to the only survivor of the accident after he had surgery Thursday, the Daily Herald reports.
Kevin Crawford, 52, Anita Crawford, 50, and their 20-year-old daughter, Kirsten Crawford, were killed Feb. 16 after the Mercedes-Benz driven by Piotr Rog, 21, of Des Plaines, collided with the Crawfords' Chevrolet Impala as it was turning into a YMCA parking lot on Northwest Highway. Rog, who was going at about 100 mph when the accident happened, also was killed in the crash.
The passenger in Rog's Mercedes —a 26-year-old Des Plaines man — survived the crash and was placed in an induced coma at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, the report stated. Police hope the passenger can provide details about what happened moments before the collision, the report added.
Find out what's happening in Des Plainesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
RELATED: Des Plaines Crash Kills Driver, 3 Arlington Heights Family Members
On Thursday, investigators worked to determine the speeds the vehicles were traveling at the time of the crash by measuring the wreckage, the report stated. They also consulted Mercedes-Benz for help concerning the "black box" in Rog's vehicle, a device similar to an airplane's flight recorder used in accident investigations, the report added.
Find out what's happening in Des Plainesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Crawfords were the parents of three children. While their eldest daughter perished with them in the crash, the couple's other two children — 15-year-old daughter Hailee and 9-year-old Christian — were not involved in the accident. The kids are currently in the care of their grandparents.
RELATED: GoFundMe Page Raises Money For Surviving Kids Of Arlington Heights Family Killed In Crash
A GoFundMe campaign was started last week to help Hailee, a Prospect High School sophomore, and Christian, a Windsor Elementary School fourth-grader. The fundraiser page was created by parents from the schools the two children attend, and the money earned will go toward the kids' future education.
In six days, the campaign has earned more than $115,000 from more than 1,900 contributors. The orginal fundraising goal was set at $10,000.
Go to the GoFundMe page to donate to the fund to help the surviving Crawford children.
The Crawford family (from left) Hailee, Anita, Kirsten, Christian and Kevin. (screen shot via GoFundMe)
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