A devastating multi-vehicle crash in west suburban La Grange has claimed the lives of two individuals and left several others hospitalized, authorities confirmed.
The accident occurred around 1:50 p.m. Friday near 47th Street and Willow Springs Road, according to the La Grange Police Department. When officers arrived at the scene, they found that seven vehicles had been involved in the collision. Emergency responders from multiple agencies worked quickly to assist the drivers and passengers involved.
Five individuals were transported to nearby hospitals with injuries, while tragically, two people were pronounced dead at the scene.
On Saturday, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified one of the victims as 51-year-old Brett Lane of Hinsdale, Illinois. The second victim, though not officially released by authorities yet, has been identified by sources as 49-year-old Melissa Lane, also from Hinsdale.
Brett Lane was a highly respected figure in the field of technology and innovation. He served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Panduit Corporation, based in Tinley Park, Illinois. With over 30 years of experience in research, development, and management of network and electrical infrastructure solutions, Brett was instrumental in driving sustainable growth through innovation and corporate entrepreneurship.
Prior to his role as CTO, Brett held various leadership positions within Panduit’s R&D and business organizations, consistently delivering groundbreaking fiber optic solutions and customer-focused product innovations. His career included previous work at Molex, where he contributed to advanced optical transceiver design and manufacturing processes.
Beyond his corporate achievements, Brett was deeply involved in the communications industry, holding multiple leadership positions in technical forums and standards development organizations. He authored over 40 technical publications and held 20 U.S. patents, solidifying his reputation as a collaborative industry expert.
Brett’s educational background was as impressive as his professional one — he earned a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University, an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
The conditions of the five hospitalized individuals have not yet been released. Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.
The La Grange community, as well as the broader technology and engineering sectors, are mourning the sudden and tragic loss of Brett Lane, a man remembered not only for his technical brilliance but also for his leadership, passion, and humanity.