Carol Stream cop among those injured in 4-vehicle crash

Rescue workers attend to a four-car accident at Army Trail and County Farm roads in Hanover Park. Police said a Carol Stream police officer was involved in the crash. Photo courtesy of Rick Degnan

An off-duty Carol Stream police sergeant was among three people hospitalized after a weekend four-vehicle crash in Hanover Park, authorities said Monday.

The accident happened about 7 p.m. Sunday when the officer rear-ended a vehicle on Army Trail Road at County Farm Road, according to Hanover Park Deputy Chief Tom Cortese. He said the crash was under investigation and no charges have been filed.

Preliminary reports indicate the rear-ended vehicle was pushed into the intersection, causing two other vehicles to become involved. Cortese said the officer and two people in the second vehicle were hospitalized. He declined to release additional details.

Carol Stream Village Manager Joe Breinig confirmed the officer was a sergeant who was off duty and driving his own vehicle. Authorities said the officer remained hospitalized Monday with unspecified injuries.

The other two victims were identified by a family member as Sam and Julie Ferruzza of Carol Stream. Sam Ferruzza's brother, Tony, said the couple was at a stop light with Julie Ferruzza behind the wheel when their eastbound sport-utility vehicle was struck and forced into moving traffic.

"My brother said that was all he remembered," Tony Ferruzza said Monday. "It was like an explosion."

He said the couple was "banged up real bad," with Sam Ferruzza, 46, and Julie Ferruzza, 45, each sustaining serious leg injuries and extensive bruising. He said Sam Ferruzza also may have back and neck injuries.

Tony Ferruzza said the family lives about a block away from the crash scene, which is near the Carol Stream-Hanover Park border. He said he arrived a short time afterward and saw "a real mess" of vehicles and a broken utility pole scattered around the heavily-traveled intersection.

"I honestly thought everyone was dead, the way the cars were," Ferruzza said.

Carol Stream Police Chief Kevin Orr was unavailable for comment, and Mayor Frank Saverino could not immediately be reached.