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Hawthorn Woods man dies from crash injuries

Authorities say a Buffalo Grove woman was texting and driving when she struck and injured a man changing a tire on the Route 53 shoulder on Aug. 1.

On Thursday, Marcin Niepsuj, 39, of Hawthorn Woods died of his injuries related to the crash, officials said.

Niepsuj was working on his vehicle on the left shoulder of northbound Route 53 near the Kirchoff Road exit at 7:33 p.m. Kelly Luch, 23, was driving her 2009 Mitsubishi when she struck a semitrailer truck in the center lane and hit Niepsuj’s vehicle parked on the left shoulder, according to the Illinois State Police.

Niepsuj was reportedly pinned between the median and the vehicle.

He was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he remained for treatment. He was pronounced dead at 2:38 p.m. Thursday due to multiple organ system failure and multiple injuries related to being struck by a motor vehicle, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Luch was charged with texting while driving, improper lane change, and improper driving on the shoulder.

Niepsuj is survived by wife Elizabeth and two children.

Robin Chessick, who gets her hair done by Elizabeth Niepsuj at a Palatine salon, set up an online fundraising page to help with the family’s expenses.

So far, donations to giveforward.com/helpingelizabeth have totaled $2,305.

Chessick said she’s also collected 25 gift cards from her neighbors in the Terramere neighborhood of Arlington Heights to give to the family.