A 5-year-old girl was killed, her father and another driver injured in a crash on at around 3:15 p.m. Friday on Route 72 near the intersection of Big Timber Road in Rutland Township.

The Kane County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the multi-vehicle crash that closed Big Timber Road and McCornack for several hours Friday evening.

According to a Sheriff’s Office press release, the initial investigation indicates that a Mercedes C320 was traveling east on Route 72, approaching a curve in the road about a third of a mile east of Big Timber Road, when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The Mercedes entered the westbound lane of traffic, colliding head on with a Toyota FJ Cruiser that was traveling west on Route 72.

A third vehicle, a Chevy Chrome, was traveling behind the Toyota and struck the rear of the Toyota.

The 45-year-old driver of the Toyota has been identified as James Horvath of Hampshire. He and his 5-year-old daughter, Gabrielle, were transported to Sherman Hospital in Elgin, where Gabrielle was pronounced dead and James was still being treated for his injuries when the press release was issued Friday. The press release said Gabrielle was in a car seat at the time of the crash.

The driver of the Mercedes, a 17-year-old juvenile male from Carpentersville, was the sole occupant. He also was transported to Sherman Hospital in Elgin and was being treated for his injuries at the time of the press release. The driver of the Chevy Chrome, David Doyle, 39, of Byron, was treated and released at the scene.

Members of the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team are continuing to investigate the crash.  Detectives have not determined whether excessive speed, drugs, alcohol or texting played a role in the crash.

SOURCE: Kane County Sheriff’s Office press release