Six people, including three preschool children, were injured Friday afternoon when a pickup truck crashed into the Church of the Transfiguration in Palos Park.
Police Chief Joe Miller said the driver of the pickup, a 29-year-old Oak Forest man, may have suffered a medical emergency right before the accident. He was taken to Northwestern Palos Hospital with minor injuries.
Miller said the preliminary investigation found that shortly after 4:30 p.m. the truck was eastbound on McCarthy Road when it veered off 123rd Street, crossed 86th Avenue into the parking lot of the church and continued through the parking lot into the building.
The three children were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, one Palos Park police officer and a church staff member were taken to Palos Northwestern, and a second Palos Park officer was taken to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood.
The church staffer suffered a medical emergency at the scene while the two police officers were hospitalized for inhalation of smoke and construction debris while trying to get to the children inside the church.
As of early Monday morning, two of the children transported to Christ had been released while the other one was admitted. He had suffered a broken leg among other injuries. Both Palos Park police officers have also been released. The driver of the pickup has also been released.
The Accident Reconstruction Team and evidence technicians worked through the night at the scene. Early Saturday morning, legal authority was obtained to retrieve the pickup truck’s black box.
Miller said investigators recovered video and other technical evidence consistent with witness statements.
Miller said police would seek medical records of the driver.
He said any charges would depend on what the investigation finds.
“Our thoughts this early morning are with the children, families, teachers, and administrators of the Church of the Transfiguration and our injured staff members,” Miller said. “They are a vital part of our community.
“We are thankful for our first responders who acted immediately to help those in need and thankful for our many partner agencies that assisted in this matter, including the Palos Fire District, Palos Heights Fire District, Orland Fire District and many departments and districts that responded to the mutual aid Box alarm.”
He singled out the Cook County Sheriff’s Police patrol and investigative staff and the Palos Heights Police Department, who made sure all the first responders were provided food while working the scene. He also recognized A Auto Towing staff who spent hours working side by side with first responders.
“One note about community, tragic events like this can provide valuable lessons born from them,”he added. “We saw courageous teachers and people running toward the problem rather than away from it, we saw people being action-oriented and neighborly, reaching out, being supportive, generous and selfless. Community members offering assistance, other religious organizations in Palos Park offering any assistance needed. In this chaotic event we experienced the very best of our friends and neighbors, thank you!”
