(VIRGIL) An 11-year-old boy was killed and two others injured when an SUV rammed into another vehicle in northwest suburban Virgil Wednesday night, causing a chain reaction crash.

 

About 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, three vehicles were stopped while driving westbound on Route 64 near Peplow Road because of a traffic backup caused by another accident nearby, according to a release from the Kane County Sheriff’s office.

 

A 1999 Ford Expedition, also westbound on Route 64, failed to stop for the other vehicles and struck the rear of a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier, the release said. This caused the Cavalier to strike a 2006 Buick Lucerne. The Buick went off the roadway onto the shoulder and the Cavalier struck the rear of a 2004 Hyundai, the release said.

 

All three people in the Cavalier -- the 21-year-old driver, his 11-year-old brother, and an 18-year-old front seat passenger -- were taken to Kishwaukee Community Hospital, the sheriff’s office said.

 

The 11-year-old boy, Matthew Ranken, who was seated in the back of the Cavalier, was pronounced dead at the hospital, police said. The two others in the Cavalier were treated for non life-threatening injuries. The drivers of the other vehicles were the sole occupants of their respective vehicles and were treated and released at the scene. Everyone was wearing seatbelts, according to the sheriff’s office.

 

The Sheriff’s office is continuing its investigation into this crash and have not determined if the use of drugs, alcohol or texting played a role in this crash. The sheriff’s office did say though that the roadways were covered by blowing and drifting snow at the time of the crash. Route 64 was closed between Fabris and Peplow roads for about four hours for the investigation.

 

The driver of the Expedition, 28-year-old Benjamin Black of Sycamore, was issued citations for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. No other citations were issued.

 

The sheriff’s office was working with the Sycamore School District, where the boy was a student, so they could have a plan to help students at the boy’s school deal with the news.

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