Des Plaines has released reports and Red Light camera footage from two different angles of the crash that claimed three lives Sunday, March 25 at the intersection of Rand and Golf roads.
Footage obtained by the Des Plaines Journal through a Freedom of Information Act request shows the moment of impact between the Volkswagen carrying four members of unincorporated Des Plaines’ Dilji family, including 16-year-old driver Amel Dilji, and a Lexus driven by Raslan Nairner, 38, of Des Plaines.
Witnesses can also be seen running to the scene afterwards.
Altogether, four cameras are installed around the intersection on Golf, with two located just west of the intersection and another two placed slightly east. Each pair is arranged vertically and angled down to focus on the red lights on each side of the intersection.
Des Plaines installed the Red Light camera system eight years ago following a 2008 study of accident-prone intersections in the city.
Video footage of the crash from the cameras west of Golf is slightly longer at just over two minutes. Footage from the cameras east of Golf totals about 45 seconds.
From the cameras east of the intersection near the Henry Semrow Driving Range, the Volkswagen, traveling northwest on Rand, can be seen entering the frame just after 6:04 p.m., according to the video timestamp.
Seconds after the Volkswagen begins a left turn onto westbound Golf, footage shows Nairner’s Lexus, traveling southeast on Rand, striking the car. Upon impact, the back wheels of the Lexus appeared to lift off the ground, and thick smoke and debris can be seen immediately. As the Volkswagen’s body tumbled into a heavily wooded area south of the intersection, the Lexus can also be seen spinning 360-degrees on the ground until it is again facing southeast on Rand.
According to police reports, Amel Dilji’s 20-year-old sister Amra Dilji was seated in the Volkswagen’s passenger seat. Their mother, Edije Dilji, 48 or 53, was seated behind her daughter and Serif Dilji, 57, was seated behind the driver’s seat.
Mark Tames, a former Marine and witness who identified himself as an individual captured on Red Light camera footage running to the scene, said the vehicle flipped in the air after it was hit. At the same time, its engine block was projected from the vehicle, Tames said.
About three seconds after first impact, the Volkswagen had settled in the wooded area and flames can be seen erupting from what Tames said was engine block, for approximately four seconds.
“I did not hear a screech,” he said of the accident. According to Tames, the crash seemed to be more due to a miscalculation or obstruction of view for one or both of the drivers rather than speed. Police reports said both vehicles entered the intersection on a solid green light.
Cars continued to travel through the intersection during and after the accident.
From the cameras stationed on the west side of the intersection, there is a clear view of damage to the front ends of both vehicles, with debris shown projected into the roadway. Footage blurs as the Volkswagen is pushed off the roadway and the Lexus spins mostly out of the frame.
This angle also has a clear view of at least four individuals running to the scene.
Less than a minute after the accident, a motorist traveling west on Golf parked in the roadway median and ran to the scene, followed by another motorist on westbound Golf. The first was wearing a black jacket with white stripes on the sleeves and the second was wearing dark pants and a light-colored shirt.
Tames, visible in an orange vest, and another individual in a light shirt and dark sweatpants can also be seen running to the crash site from northwest bound Rand.
“The only one conscious was the driver,” said Tames of his arrival at the Volkswagen. “I looked at the other three and I knew they had already passed away.”
Another individual in light pants and a dark shirt can also be seen walking near the back of the Lexus at about 6:05 p.m. Tames said this is most likely Nairner, who was able to exit his car and did not have apparent injuries.
During the last frame of the video, another motorist appears to be exiting their vehicle on eastbound Golf. Before police arrived, Tames and at least three others attempted to pry open the Volkswagen with a crowbar.
“I knew there was no way we could open those doors,” he told the Journal & Topics, describing the car as “totaled.”
Eventually, the Volkswagen had to be cut open to extract the victims. Amel Dilji was transported to Lutheran General Hospital, where he was being treated for life-threatening injuries sustained in the crash as of last Wednesday. The other family members were transported to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsies. Results showed the three victims died of multiple blunt force injuries, or multiple injuries, suffered in the accidental crash.
Keith Jensen, another witness, also said he obtained footage of the accident from a dashboard camera.
“Someone’s life is changed forever,” he said of the experience. Jensen’s footage has not been released.
“Condolences for both the individuals and their family members,” said Tames.
Officer Michael Heidkamp of the Des Plaines Police Dept. said Monday the crash is still under investigation and police are waiting on warrants to thoroughly inspect the vehicles. On-board computers are needed help determine vehicle speed.
No citations have been issued.