Wheaton police investigate fatal crash

A 51-year-old Wheaton woman died Monday night in an accident where both drivers had to be extricated from their vehicles.

Police said they're not sure what caused the crash on a Wheaton street that killed Joanne L. Shain, 51, and injured Jeremy Miele, 22, of Wheaton.

Authorities haven't found witnesses. There also were no passengers, and Shain and Miele appear to have been the only people involved, said Wheaton Deputy Police Chief Thomas E. Meloni.

The accident happened about 10 p.m. at the intersection of Elm and Main Streets, in a residential neighborhood just south of the city's downtown. There's a four-way stop sign at the intersection.

Meloni said it was not even possible to determine which direction either of the vehicles was traveling prior to the crash.

Fire department crews worked for 15 to 20 minutes to cut Miele from his 2000 Chevrolet van and about 30 minutes to remove Shain from her 2004 Mitsibushi Eclipse.

Shain was airlifted to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove where she was pronounced dead. Miele was admitted to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield and released today, officials said.