Man killed, 2 injured in DeKalb crash

DE KALB (MCT) — A 21-year-old man was killed and two other men were airlifted from a crash after the car they were in rear-ended a semitrailer and was dragged a couple of blocks early Sunday in DeKalb.

Police found open containers of alcohol in the car and believe alcohol may have played a role in the crash, DeKalb police Cpl. Joseph Espy said.

The crash happened about 4:15 a.m. in the 500 block of West Lincoln Highway, near the Northern Illinois University campus, officials said. According to Espy, the truck driver, who had stopped for a red light, had just started moving with the green light when the victims' vehicle, a white 2003 Hyundai XG350L, hit his truck.

The Hyundai had been "traveling at a high rate of speed," DeKalb fire Capt. Jeff McMaster said.

The truck driver felt something but kept driving for a few blocks before he noticed a problem, pulled over and got out to inspect his truck, Espy said. The Hyundai was still wedged underneath his rear end.

The driver of the car, Luis Hernandez, of the 800 block of West Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, was pronounced dead at the scene, Espy said. He was wearing a seat belt.

The two passengers, both in the back seat, were airlifted in critical condition to Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb, McMaster said.

One passenger, Hernandez's 29-year-old brother, was later airlifted to another unidentified hospital, Espy said. The other passenger, 33, is a relative of Hernandez's. Espy said he did not know if the two men in the back seat were wearing seat belts.

Firefighters worked for 20 minutes to extricate the two survivors, McMaster said.

No citations were issued to the truck driver, Espy said. The crash is under investigation.