4 Critically Injured In Fatal Head-On Crash In Homer Glen: Sheriff

HOMER GLEN, IL — Two people died and four were critically injured in a three-vehicle crash in Homer Glen on Tuesday, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office said the crash happened on 143rd Street, just west of Hillcrest Road, at 5:30 p.m. Northwest Homer Fire, Homer Fire and Lemont Fire personnel were on scene to assist the seven people who were involved in the accident and were suffering from multiple injuries.

Police said sheriff's traffic investigators reconstructed the crash throughout the evening. Preliminary reports indicate that Chris Haramija, 37, of Joliet, was driving westbound when his vehicle went into oncoming traffic, police said.

Haramija's vehicle, a Nissan, struck a Lincoln SUV and then struck a Hyundai head-on, which caused the engine compartment to catch fire and become engulfed into flames, the sheriff's office said. The driver of the Lincoln, a 55-year-old man, refused medical treatment at the scene.

The driver of the Hyundai, a 49-year-old woman, suffered extensive injuries and was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, the sheriff's office said. She has been transferred for further treatment.

The front-seat passenger of the Hyundai, a 77-year-old man, was taken to Silver Cross Hospital, where he died of his injuries, police said. A 73-year-old woman who was riding in the back seat also died of her injuries at the scene. All three people in the Hyundai were family members from Orland Park, police said.

The Will County Coroner's Office has identified the man as Adrian Spaargaren and the woman as Kathleen Repsis.

Haramija was taken to an area hospital with multiple injuries, police said. He has been cited with improper lane use, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and transportation of open alcohol.

Two people in Haramija's vehicle were also injured, according to police. The front-seat passenger, a 41-year-old man, suffered extensive injuries and is in critical condition. The rear-seat passenger, a 33-year-old man, was also taken to an area hospital with multiple injuries. He is in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries, the sheriff's office said.