Palatine police, Cook Sheriff’s deputies and Palatine firefighter/paramedics responded about 6:48 p.m. Wednesday, February 1, 2017 to head-on crash with injuries and entrapment. One of the vehicles also rolled over, and both drivers were trapped in their vehicles.
Firefighter/paramedics worked on two extrication operations simultaneously, and extricated both drivers by about 7:05 p.m.
Ortiz was transported to Level I Trauma Center Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where she was last listed in stable condition. The driver of the Toyota was transported to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights and was treated and released.
There were no passengers in either vehicle, according to police.
Palatine police said that Gloria Ortiz was driving a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder eastbound on Dundee Road at about 6:45 p.m. when her SUV crossed into the oncoming westbound lane of traffic and struck a Toyota SUV head-on.
Gloria Ortiz, age 51 from Carpentersville, is now facing drunken driving allegations after police suspect said she caused the two-vehicle crash.
Gloria Ortiz is scheduled to appear in Cook County court February 28, 2017 on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, improper lane usage, and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.
Dundee Road was closed for accident investigation in the area of Palos Avenue between Quentin Road and Northwest Highway (US 14) until about 9:50 p.m. Traffic was detoured in the neighborhood to the south of Dundee Road.
FIRE/MEDIC UNITS ASSIGNED …
ENGINE(S): E81 E84 E82
TRUCK(S): TL85
SQUAD(S): SQD85
CHIEF(S): BC8
EMS: A81 A83 Palatine Rural A36
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