Buffalo Grove High School security guard Orlando Rivas made a split second decision when the driver of a car hit a pole near the high school that caused the pole to start to fall toward high school students he was helping cross the street at Dundee Road and the Buffalo Grove High School parking lot exit.
His heroic decision caused him to suffer a devastating traumatic brain injury that caused his death three days after his heroic, selfless act. He was shielding students from the falling pole when he was fatally injured, Tuesday afternoon, April 21, 2026 as school was dismissed. No other injuries were reported.
According to his family and friends, Orlando Rivas is a hero, not just this past Tuesday, but everyday of his life. His actions were a reflection of the extraordinary courage, selflessness, and care for others that defines the way Orlando lives his life. He had a gift of connecting with everyone he meets so genuinely and with so much infectious joy. He would stop at nothing to provide, protect and care for his family and friends.
He and his family, who he loved more than anything, need all our support and love right now.
— Michelle Bolano, who established gofundme for Orlando Rivas
A crash near Buffalo Grove High School resulted in a Buffalo Grove High School staff member critically injured as a pedestrian near Dundee Road and an exit from the Buffalo Grove High School parking lot on Tuesday afternoon (Lissette Nuñez/ABC 7 Chicago). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Police, firefighters and paramedics from Buffalo Grove responded about 3:20 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2026 to a report of a crash with injuries involving a pedestrian at the exit of Buffalo Grove High School’s parking lot to Dundee Road in Buffalo Grove.
Buffalo Grove police officers, firefighters, and paramedics provided emergency aid to an injured pedestrian, who was then transported by paramedics to an undisclosed hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The pedestrian was identified as a Buffalo Grove High School staff member, who was listed in critical condition Tuesday night. Several students and staff members at Buffalo Grove High School witnessed the crash.
The initial investigation indicates the driver of a gray 4-door Lincoln MKS exited the parking lot at Buffalo Grove High School, and then left the roadway (Dundee Road) and struck a pole in the parkway just west of the parking lot exit on the north side of Dundee Road. The Lincoln MKS then struck the Buffalo Grove High School staff member pedestrian.
Buffalo Grove Police Department closed Dundee Road for about 3.5 hours for an extended crash investigation. The Village of Buffalo Grove posted the traffic alert “road closure” at 4:12 p.m., and indicated at 7:00 p.m. that the roadway was re-opened.
Following the on-scene investigation, the investigation by the Buffalo Grove Police Department Traffic Unit and the Major Crash Assistance Team is continuing. According to the Buffalo Grove Police Department, the driver of the vehicle was fully cooperating with police investigators.
The Buffalo Grove High School exit is controlled by a stoplight, and both the exit and Dundee Road (Illinois Route 68) have a marked crosswalk. Oberweis Dairy and McDonald’s are located just south of the Buffalo Grove High School exit on the south side Dundee Road. The Speed Limit on Dundee Road is 35 MPH, according to Google Maps Street View images captured July 2004. Dundee Road is four lanes across at the Buffalo Grove High School exit — two straight lanes westbound, two straight lanes eastbound, and a left turn lane from eastbound Dundee Road to northbound into the Buffalo Grove High School parking lot. One northbound lane provides an entrance to the parking lot. The exit provides two southbound lanes — one for a left turn lane to eastbound Dundee Road, and one right turn lane to westbound Dundee Road.
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