Head-On Collision on Route 72 Sends Four to Hospital, Including Evita Bayliff

On the evening of May 14, 2025, a serious traffic accident occurred on Route 72, just west of the DeKalb County line in Illinois. At approximately 4:15 p.m., a Honda Accord, carrying three occupants—Damian, Jose, and Isaac Rodriguez of Belvidere—experienced a mechanical failure while traveling westbound. This failure caused the vehicle to cross into the eastbound lane, resulting in a head-on collision with a Hyundai Kona driven by Evita Bayliff of Pingree Grove.

Emergency responders arrived promptly, and all four individuals involved were transported to nearby hospitals for medical attention. Two of the Rodriguez occupants were taken to a hospital in Elgin, while one was airlifted to a hospital in Rockford due to the severity of their injuries. Ms. Bayliff was also transported to a hospital in Elgin for treatment.