Sheriff’s Office investigates car crash involving horse

MARENGO – A 52-year old woman was evacuated by helicopter from the scene of a crash on Wednesday, Feb. 17 after her vehicle collided with a horse in unincorporated Coral Township.

Preliminary investigation indicated that a 2002 Honda CR-V, driven by Lollie Popp-Steinke of Marengo, was traveling eastbound in the 8000 block of Route 20 east of Coral Road when at 6:13 p.m. her vehicle struck one of two horses, which had gotten loose from a local farm.

The driver, Lollie Popp-Steinke, was flown by Flight for Life to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Rockford, Il., where she was listed in stable condition. Popp-Steinke had been wearing her seatbelt, her front airbag had deployed, and neither drugs nor alcohol were suspected as having played a role in the crash.

The owner of the horse arranged for it to be euthanized at the scene, due to injuries sustained in the crash.

The investigation is ongoing by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Traffic Crash Investigations Unit. Members of Marengo Fire Protection District, Union Fire Protection District, Union Fire Protection District, and Illinois Department of Transportation also responded to the scene.