Tollway crash kills Marengo woman

A Marengo woman was killed instantly Thursday morning when she rear-ended a semitrailer truck on the Northwest Tollway near Route 47.

Julie A. Turdik, 43, was driving east on I-90 shortly before 8 a.m. when her 2005 Ford Focus ran into the back of the truck, Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Robert Meeder said.

"The Ford Focus went partially underneath the semi," Meeder said.

Turdik was alone in the car.

The truck dragged the car about 300 feet before finally coming to a halt, Kane County Coroner Chuck West said.

The truck driver was not injured and unaware of what happened until another motorist flagged him down, West said.

Turdik was a teacher at the Kinder Care Learning Center on Fargo Boulevard in Geneva, supervising a classroom of 2-year-olds.

"We are very saddened by the loss of Miss Julie," said Kinder Care District Manager Tinamarie Passantino. "The children, the team and parents loved Miss Julie very much and we will miss her very much."

Eastbound traffic on I-90 was backed up for four to five hours, authorities said.

Police said they are still investigating the cause of the crash.