CRESTWOOD, Ill. (WBBM) -- Thirteen people, including two firefighters, were taken to the hospital after a sport utility vehicle careened out of control into two other vehicles and a crowd of people at the Tri-State Auto Auction in south suburban Crestwood.
Three of the injured were transported in critical condition.
Crestwood Fire Chief Jon Bruce says there were people down "all over the place" when he first walked in the door.
"They've been there for many years and this is the first time we've ever had something remotely like this happen," he said.
Bruce says a 2000 Range Rover was inside the auction house, to be viewed by those present for the auction, when its accelerator became stuck and the driver was unable to stop the vehicle.
Bruce said the SUV slammed first into a Dodge Caravan minivan, which in turn struck a group of the people lining the two show lanes. The driver changed lanes inside the building to try to avoid others in the crowd, but struck several more people before exiting at a speed of nearly 40 miles an hour through a garage door opening, damaging the door and guard rails outside. The vehicle stopped only when it struck another vehicle near a test track half a block away.
Eyewitnesses told WBBM-TV that the driver "appeared afraid" as she struggled to control the SUV.
The force of impact knocked out the three most critically injured patients, each of whom suffered head and leg injuries. Bruce said he immediately summoned assistance from Midlothian, Posen and Hometown, and that the 11 people struck by the vehicles were transported to area hospitals within 30 minutes.
Two firefighters were hurt tending to the injured. One hurt his back trying to move one of those struck by the Range Rover. A second firefighter who was splattered by blood was also checked at a local hospital.
The victims were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and other area hospitals.
State police had been summoned to investigate whether the SUV has any mechanical problems. Crestwood Police interviewed the driver, an employee of the Auto Auction.
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