Girl, 5, Killed In Kane County crash

(STMW) -- A 5-year-old girl was killed and her father and another person were injured Friday afternoon in a three-vehicle crash near northwest suburban Pingree Grove.

A 17-year-old boy was driving a Mercedes C320 eastbound on Route 72 about 3:15 p.m. just past Big Timber Road when he lost control of the vehicle while approaching a curve in the road, according to the Kane County sheriff's office.

The Mercedes then collided head-on with a Toyota FJ Cruiser that was traveling westbound on Route 72, police said. A third vehicle, a Chevrolet Chrome, then rear-ended the Toyota.

The 45-year-old man driving the Toyota and his 5-year-old daughter, Gabrielle Horvath, were taken to Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, where the girl was pronounced dead, police said.

Horvath, of Hampshire, was in a car seat in the rear of the vehicle at the time of the crash, police said.

The Carpentersville teen driving the Mercedes was also taken to Sherman Hospital, police said. As of 8:30 p.m., he and the driver of the Toyota were still being treated for their injuries.

The driver of the Chevrolet, a 39-year-old man from Byron, was treated and released at the scene, police said.

The teen driving was issued a citation for driving in the wrong lane, police said.

Route 72 was closed to traffic between Big Timber and McCornack roads until about 9 p.m. while authorities investigated, police said. Investigators have not yet determined whether excessive speed, drugs, alcohol or texting played a role in the crash.