The Lake County Coroner’s Office has released the identity of the 70-year-old Wadsworth woman who died after fleeing the scene of a crash and then striking a semi-truck on Route 41 in Gurnee.
An autopsy, which was performed on Tuesday, showed that Jolanta Kubala, 70, of Wadsworth, died of blunt force injuries caused by a motor vehicle crash, according to Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper. Toxicology results are pending.
The Gurnee Police Department and Gurnee Fire Department responded around 7:20 p.m. Monday to Route 41 and Route 21 for a vehicle crash with injuries.
Police officers found two vehicles involved, a 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor with extensive damage, and a semi-truck, according to Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor.
An initial investigation shows the driver of the Mitsubishi, identified as Kubala, was involved in a hit-and-run crash near Fuller Road and Stearns School Road, which is approximately a half-mile northwest of Route 41 and Route 21, Gaylor said.
The Mitsubishi rear-ended a 2008 Nissan carryall before driving away from the scene. The driver of the Nissan sustained minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital.
After the Mitsubishi fled the scene, Kubala continued driving southbound on Route 41 toward Route 21. For an unknown reason, the woman entered the intersection and collided with a semi-truck attempting to turn left from northbound Route 21 onto Route 41, Gaylor said.
Kubala was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead later that evening. The semi-truck driver, a 49-year-old Milwaukee, Wisconsin man, was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators with the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) responded to the scene to assist with the crash investigation.
The crash remains under investigation by the Gurnee Police Department, Lake County Coroner’s Office and MCAT.