Joliet head-on crash leaves 1 dead, 2 critically hurt, police say

JOLIET, Ill. - A head-on crash in southwest suburban Joliet on Saturday evening left one person dead and two others critically injured.

The crash occurred at the intersection of Black Road and Magnolia Drive on the city’s West Side, according to the Joliet Police Department.

What we know:

Officers responded to the scene just before 7 p.m.

A Buick Regal, driven by David Lee Nelson, 57, was traveling westbound on Black Road approaching Magnolia Drive.

Investigators believe the car veered left into an eastbound lane of Black Road and hit a Buick Encore driven by a 68-year-old woman head-on. The crash caused the Regal to hit a Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 26-year-old man who was also traveling eastbound on Black Road.

Nelson was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center, where he died.

The driver and a 69-year-old female passenger of the Encore were also taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in critical condition.

The driver of the Chevrolet was not injured.

Joliet police are investigating the crash.

What we don't know:

It was unclear why Nelson veered into oncoming traffic.

What you can do:

Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contact the Joliet Police Department Traffic Unit at 815-724-3193.