Helicopter Rescues Northbrook Woman After Fiery Lake Forest Crash

LAKE FOREST, IL — The driver rescued from a flaming wreck Friday night on Route 41 after crashing into the back of a tractor-trailer remained hospitalized Monday, authorities said. Police and firefighters were called shortly after 10 p.m. to the scene of the crash in the southbound lanes at Old Elm Road, according to Lake Forest police and fire officials.

First responders found a 2009 black Subaru Outback had smashed into the back of the semi truck at a high rate of speed and burst into flames. The station wagon had come to a halt inches from the back of the semi after becoming wedged underneath, stopped only by the back wheels of its trailer.

The first officers to arrive used fire extinguishers on the car to help save a woman who was trapped inside, authorities said. Around 10:16 p.m., additional rescue crews were called to the scene.

Firefighters attacked the fire while simultaneously providing medical attention to the trapped woman and working to freeing her from the vehicle, according to Lake Forest Battlion Chief Eric Globerger.

Tools were used to cut off the Outback's roof and side doors in order to extract her from the vehicle.

"I can't believe she survived it," said Lake Forest Police Deputy Chief Rob Copeland. "She's lucky to be alive."

Within about 30 minutes, a Lifestar medical helicopter was en route, authorities said. Police shut down traffic in both directions to make way but its landing was briefly delayed by reports of a person piloting an unmanned aerial vehicle in the landing zone.

"The drone was in the way for the life flight to land," Copeland said. "We found an idiot over by the Old Elm, Route 41 intersection who was operating a drone and we made him shut it down so we could land the helicopter."

In a social media post, Flight For Life said the incident commander reported two drones flying through the active scene and notified the helicopter's pilot around 10:50 p.m. The emergency transport system warned the situation could have been far different had the fire department incident commander not noticed the drones and quickly reported them.

Police reminded residents drones are always forbidden near an active emergency response scene under state and federal law.

The helicopter transported the woman to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. The truck driver was not injured. The driver of the Subaru was identified as a Northbrook resident by the Northbrook Tower.

The Lake Forest Fire Department said it was was assisted at the scene by crews from Deerfield, Highland Park and Northbrook.

The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team is investigating the cause of the crash. Investigators kept the southbound lanes of Route 41 closed until well after 3 a.m. Saturday, police said.