Stephanie Rojas, 26, of Zion, was identified as the mother who was killed in the Waukegan crash that left her two children with critical injuries, the Lake County Coroner’s Office said.
Rojas was driving her Kia sedan when an SUV crossed into the opposite lane of traffic and struck her car, which had her two children in it.
Lake County Sheriff’s Detective Rebecca Loeb said that the crash happened just after 6 p.m. on Friday at Green Bay Road and Nemesis Avenue, which is on the border of Waukegan and Beach Park.
Loeb said that a 2005 Dodge Durango, driven by a 20-year-old Beach Park man, was driving northbound when it crossed the double-yellow divider and went into the southbound lane, striking a 2014 Kia Forte.
Rojas’ two kids, a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old, were in the backseat of her Kia at the time of the crash.
Rojas suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center. On Monday, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said that she died in the hospital.
Her 6-year-old boy was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he was later flown to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Her 8-year-old girl was transported to Vista East Medical Center.
Police last said that the two children were in critical condition. The driver of the Dodge Durango suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified Rojas on Tuesday and said that she died from multiple traumatic injuries. The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Unit.
“Stephanie left behind her husband, her 6 younger siblings, her cousins, her parents, her grandparents, friends, but most heartbreaking of all, she left behind her two beautiful babies. To say that she will be greatly missed is an understatement,” relative Rick Rojas said on a GoFundMe page.
“Elijah and Laila remain hospitalized with severe injuries and are unaware of the loss of their mother. If there is any way that you can help, be it small or large, your efforts and contributions are greatly appreciated,” Rick Rojas added.
As of Tuesday evening, the GoFundMe page had raised over $5,000 in less than a day.