PEORIA, ILLINOIS — A medical emergency led to a dramatic multi-vehicle crash in North Peoria on Saturday, prompting a rapid response from firefighters who had to use the Jaws of Life to extract one person from a mangled vehicle.
The incident occurred just before 6:30 p.m. near the 1300 block of West Northmoor Road, close to the intersection with North University Street. Emergency services were alerted after an iPhone crash detection feature automatically notified authorities of the accident.
Chain Reaction Crash Involved Three Cars
Fire crews from Peoria Fire Department arrived to find a chaotic scene involving three vehicles. A woman, believed to have suffered a medical episode, lost control of her car, which left the road and hit a pole before colliding with two other vehicles. The impact was so severe that two of the cars became stuck together, WMBD reported.
Peoria Battalion Chief Mike Ralston said firefighters quickly worked to free a trapped passenger from one of the vehicles. The individual was successfully extracted using hydraulic rescue tools.
Three Transported, No Critical Injuries
In total, three people were transported to a local hospital. Fortunately, all were reported to have non-life-threatening injuries, according to fire officials. Details about the identities or current condition of those involved were not released at the time of reporting.
Police spokesperson Semone Roth confirmed that the crash appeared to be the result of the driver’s sudden medical condition, which caused her to leave the road unexpectedly before crashing.
Crash Detection Technology Helped Alert Authorities
Authorities noted that an automated iPhone crash alert played a critical role in triggering a fast response from first responders. The technology, built into newer iPhones, can automatically contact emergency services when it detects a crash-like event and the user doesn’t respond. This likely shortened the time between the incident and the arrival of help.
Community Response and Next Steps
As of now, no citations or charges have been issued, and the investigation remains open. The scene was cleared shortly after 7:30 p.m. Police have not indicated whether further statements or updates will be released.
The incident has raised awareness of how mobile alert systems can assist in potentially life-threatening crashes, especially when victims may be unable to call for help themselves.
What do you think about crash alert technology like this? Have you or someone you know been helped by one? Share your experience in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
