An 11-year-old boy who was in the back seat of this Chevy Cavalier died in a four-car crash in Kane County, when an SUV crashed into the back of the Cavalier, which then hit two other cars. (Credit: CBS)
VIRGIL, Ill. (CBS) – An 11-year-old boy was killed Wednesday night in a four-car crash in rural Kane County.
Kane County Sheriff’s Police Lt. Pat Gengler said three cars were stopped in the westbound lane of Illinois Route 64 and Peplow Road at about 7:30 p.m. in the village of Virgil, because of an earlier accident nearby.
A fourth vehicle, a Ford Expedition, crashed into the back of a Chevy Cavalier, causing a chain reaction crash, according to Gengler. The Cavalier hit a Buick Lecerne, sending that car off the road. The Cavalier then hit the rear of a Hyundai.
An 11-year-old boy who was in the back seat of the Cavalier died after he was taken to Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb. Two other people from the Cavalier also were taken to Kishwaukee for treatment.
The DeKalb County Coroner’s office identified the boy as Matthew Ranken, of Sycamore. His 21-year-old brother was driving the Cavalier at the time of the crash.
The drivers of the other three vehicles were treated at the scene.
Police were investigating whether blowing snow might have been a factor in the wreck.
The driver of the Expedition, 29-year-old Benjamin Black, was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and operating a vehicle without insurance.
