Arlington Heights Woman Killed in Saturday Car Accident Near Richmond

An Arlington Heights woman was killed at about noon on Saturday when the Jeep she was driving allegedly crossed the center line and struck a pickup truck pulling a recreational trailer on U.S. Route 12 outside of Richmond.

Sharon L. Ams, 68, of Arlington Heights, was pronounced dead at the scene by the McHenry County Coroner's Office, according to a press release issued by McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren.

In the release, Nygren stated that at approximately 11:58 a.m. Aug. 11, members of the Richmond Fire Protection District, Richmond Police Department, Spring Grove Police Department, McHenry County Conservation Police, and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene of a two-vehicle crash that occurred on Route 12, approximately 4/10 mile east of Mackwood Drive, in unincorporated Richmond Township.

Preliminary investigations indicate a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Ams was traveling westbound on US Route 12 when it crossed over the centerline and sideswiped a 2002 GMC 2500 Sierra pickup truck.

The Jeep then collided with the fifth wheel recreational trailer pulled by the truck. The recreational trailer detached, rolled over onto its side and came to rest in the south ditch area. The GMC came to rest in the roadway, the press release stated.

The Jeep came to rest on the roadway where it momentarily caught fire, but was extinguished by Richmond Fire Protection District.

The driver of the pickup truck, Donald W. McCullough, 75, and the passenger, Sara C. McCullough, 75, both of Lancaster, South Carolina, were treated and released at the scene by the Richmond Fire Protection District.

All occupants were wearing safety belts and the airbag systems were deployed in both vehicles. The accident is under investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Police Accident Investigation Unit and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office.