Authorities identify two women killed in Lake County crash
Lake County authorities on Tuesday released the identities of two women killed Saturday in a head-on collision in Fremont Township, as investigators continue to sift through evidence to determine what caused the deadly crash.
Barbara Gaulke, 56, of Ingleside was identified as the driver of a Kia Forte that was hit at about 9:05 p.m. Saturday by an oncoming van in the northbound lanes of Fairfield Road, just north of Route 60.
Gaulke was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, along with her passenger, identified as Sandra Forscht, 64, of Round Lake. Preliminary autopsy results indicate both died as a result of blunt force trauma due to a motor vehicle crash, Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper said in a news release Tuesday.
"We have been in close contact with both families and our deepest condolences go out to them during this difficult time. This is truly an awful tragedy," Cooper said.
Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Christopher Covelli said investigators are working to interview others involved and reconstruct the crash to determine estimated speeds of the vehicles.
They're also awaiting the results of blood and urine tests from the drivers, hospital records to determine if a medical event contributed to the crash, and they may request subpoenas for cellphone records to determine if a driver was texting or using their phone at the time of the crash.
"It could be several weeks before it's determined if charges are warranted," he said.
According to sheriff's police, a 51-year-old Round Lake Beach man was driving a Ford E350 van south on Fairfield when it crossed into the northbound lanes and struck the driver's side of a Honda Odyssey minivan. The van then collided head on with the Kia Forte driven by Gaulke authorities said.
The driver of the Ford van and Honda, a 42-year-old Hainesville man, were taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with nonlife-threatening injuries, sheriff's police said.