Christmas Day Crash Leaves 5 Hospitalized, Ages 8 - 80: Sheriff

PLANO, IL — Kendall County Sheriff's Office is investigating a crash that landed five people hospitalized and at least four in critical condition. They include an 80-year-old woman who was airlifted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, and an 8-year-old girl, whose condition was not mentioned in the press release from the Kendall County Sheriff's Office.

The head-on collision happened Christmas Day at 3:31 p.m. at the 13000 block of Galena Road in Little Rock Township. A 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer collided with a 2004 model of the same vehicle, according to a Facebook post from the Kendall County Sheriff's Office.

Officials said Savaughn Strickland, from the 00 block of Loucks Street in Aurora, was traveling west on Galena Road when his Trailblazer collided with 80-year-old Janice S. Armstrong's Trailblazer. Armstrong, of the 1600 block of Delray Drive in Aurora, was taken by helicopter in critical condition to Good Samaritan Hospital. Cassie Armstrong, 55, who was a passenger, was transported by Little Rock Fox Paramedics in critical condition, the release said.

Strickland was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital and is in critical condition. He was cited for improper lane usage, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, driving while his license was revoked and failure to reduce speed, officials said. Strickland had passengers in his car who were hospitalized, too. Douglas Duffy, 58, of Sandwich, and Ashley Robinson, 27, of Aurora, were both taken to Rush Copley, then flown to Loyola Medical Center in critical condition.

An 8-year-old Aurora girl, also a passenger in Strickland's car, was taken to Valley West Hospital in Sandwich.

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Plano Police Department on scene.

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