Witnesses say unidentified car caused collision, did not stop
By SARAH SUTSCHEK - ssutschek@nwherald.com
CRYSTAL LAKE – A Round Lake Beach woman is in critical condition after being flown to Lutheran General Hospital after a crash involving three cars early Thursday.
Deanna Shackleford, 21, of 2122 Mohican Drive, was driving a Chevrolet Malibu when it collided at 6:01 a.m. with a Cadillac driven by 47-year-old Leonid M. Tchaikovski, of 803 Ridge Drive, Marengo.
Tchaikovski was taken by ambulance to Centegra Hospital – Woodstock, where he was treated and released.
Route 176 was closed in both directions between Briarwood and Haligus roads for about 2½ hours as officers investigated the crash.
Witnesses said an eastbound red car, possibly a red 2001 or 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier, tried to pass Tchaikovski as Shackleford was approaching in the westbound lane.
Shackleford then went off the road onto the north shoulder to avoid the unidentified car before swerving back on to the road, crossing into the path of Tchaikovski’s car, police said.
The front of Tchaikovski’s Cadillac hit the passenger side of Shackleford’s Malibu, and the unidentified car was not hit.
It continued eastbound on Route 176 without stopping, police said.
Battalion Chief Thomas Pollnow of the Crystal Lake Fire Department said it took emergency crews about 25 minutes to extricate Shackleford from her car.
Police are asking anyone with information about the unidentified car to call the police department at 815-356-3620.
