Four people were injured, at least two of them seriously, in a multi-vehicle crash on First Avenue in Riverside Tuesday evening.
First Avenue was shut down between 31st Street and Ogden Avenue for about an hour starting at as emergency personnel from Riverside, Lyons, North Riverside and LaGrange treated the injured and cleared the wreckage from the scene.
According to Riverside police, a white Chevy Malibu headed southbound on First Avenue swerved across the center line and struck a Mitsubishi head-on. The Mitsubishi was also struck from behind by a Honda. Two people described by police as “elderly” were traveling in the Mitsubishi. Both sustained serious injuries, police said.
The driver of the Chevy, identified as Robert Vickery, 26, of Lyons, reportedly told police he swerved to avoid a “small dog” that ran out into the roadway. The crash happened between Waubansee Road and Salt Creek, an area flanked on both sides by forest preserves.
Vickery sustained moderate injuries, according to police, while the driver of the Honda sustained minor injuries. All were taken to LoyolaUniversityMedicalCenter in Maywood for treatment.
Police cited Vickery for improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and driving in the wrong lane. Police added they do not believe that either alcohol or cellphone use played a role in the crash.
