Charges filed after ‘devastating’ crash on Edens Spur

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Updated: November 24, 2011 3:34AM

A Chicago motorist was under the influence of drugs when he caused a chain reaction crash that left him and three others injured on the Edens Spur near Northbrook on Wednesday evening.

Ryan Tasic, 24, of an unidentified address in Chicago, was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a drug paraphernalia/hypodermic needle and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, according to Illinois State Police Tollway District Master Sgt. Julio Serrano. The charges are misdemeanors.

The four-vehicle crash happened about 4:45 p.m. on the Edens Spur near Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook Fire Dept. District Chief Patrick Crown said. Seven ambulances were sent to the scene and four people were taken to area hospitals, Crown said.

Traffic was heavily backed up when Tasic, who was behind the wheel of a red, 1999 Honda Accord and speeding, didn’t stop. The Accord rear-ended a vehicle, causing a third vehicle to rear-end the one Tasic struck initially. A fourth vehicle also crashed into the third, Serrano said.

The most serious of the injuries were suffered by the driver and passenger of the vehicle Tasic initially rear-ended, Serrano said. That driver suffered a “broken back,” while the impact ruptured the passenger’s spleen, he said. Both were taken to Evanston Hospital.

Tasic was also injured and taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. His injuries were also considered “pretty serious,” Serrano said.

The driver of the third vehicle was also injured and taken to Highland Park Hospital with very minor injuries, Serrano said.

Crown said firefighters from the Glencoe, Deerfield, Glenview, Northfield, Highland Park and Skokie fire departments responded to the scene and the high number of responding ambulances was to ensure those firefighters would be medically treated if needed.

“There were so many fireman sent in, just such a devastating car accident,” Crown said.

A Flight for Life helicopter was on standby, but ultimately not used to transport patients, Crown said.