Driver in Lake Villa area crash that killed two identified
The driver killed in a three-vehicle crash Thursday evening near Lake Villa that also killed her 17-month-old grandson was identified Saturday morning by the Lake County coroner's office as Nancy Siedlecki, 64, of Spring Grove.
The grandson, of Lake Zurich, was not identified in the news release. They both died of multiple injuries due to blunt force trauma, the office said.
His 3-year-old sister who was badly injured remained hospitalized in critical condition Friday, Lake County sheriff's police said.
Three other people hurt in the accident have since been released from a different hospital.
The accident occurred on Route 59 near Beach Avenue.
Siedlecki was traveling northbound in a 2017 Nissan SUV, when the driver of a 2014 Ford pickup pulling a trailer was attempting to merge from the east side shoulder, police said.
The front of the Nissan struck the Ford, causing the Nissan to roll, police said. As the Nissan slid into the southbound lanes of Route 59, it was struck by a 2007 Hyundai minivan.
The Nissan rolled and crossed into the southbound lanes of Route 59, where it collided with a 2007 Hyundai minivan.
Siedlecki and her grandson were pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash occurred in front of Ken Reynolds' auto shop. He told ABC 7 he immediately ran and attempted to help the woman in the Nissan.
"I told her, 'Just hang in there, just hang in there. Help is on the way. The fire department and ambulance are coming, just stay in there with me. Just try to hang on,'" he said. "It didn't look good from the start."
Two of his employees also rushed to the victims' aid.
"The first thing I thought of was to call 911, get somebody on the way as soon as possible," Eric Jones told ABC 7. "It was something I never seen before. It was crazy."
"Once we found out there were kids in the car, it took it to another level," said Reynolds. "You could tell the lady was trying to hang on, but there was nothing we could do."
The girl was flown by emergency helicopter to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where she remained Friday, police said.
The driver of the Ford pickup truck was identified Friday as a 41-year-old man from the Grayslake area. He was treated at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville and released.
Two people were inside the Hyundai: a 57-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy, both from the Lake Villa area. Both were treated at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville and released.
No charges have been filed. The accident remains under investigation.
"Crash investigators will be looking at onboard data recorders as well as sending subpoenas for other items, including medical records," police Sgt. Christopher Covelli said. "It is likely to take several weeks to months before the entire crash investigation is concluded."