Authorities have identified a 69-year-old Lindenhurst woman killed after a head-on crash in Gurnee Thursday that also injured two others.
An autopsy showed that Joan Lowry, 69, of Lindenhurst, 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 Fire Department and Gurnee Police Department responded around 4:50 p.m. Thursday to the area of Washington Street and Cemetery Road for a two-vehicle crash with injuries.
Officers arrived to find a 2002 GMC Envoy and a 2013 Toyota Sienna with extensive damage, according to Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor.
A preliminary investigation shows the GMC was traveling eastbound on Washington Street east of Cemetery Road when it crossed the center lane and collided with the Toyota, which was traveling westbound on Washington Street.
The GMC was occupied by two people, a 71-year-old male driver and Lowry, who was in the front passenger seat, Cooper said.
Lowry was pronounced dead at the scene and the male driver was transported by ambulance to an area hospital in unknown condition.
The driver and sole occupant of the Toyota, a 37-year-old Grayslake woman, was also transported to an area hospital hospital in unknown condition.
Investigators with the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) responded to the scene and aided Gurnee police with the crash investigation, Gaylor said.
“We have been in close contact with Ms. Lowry’s family and our deepest condolences go out to them during this difficult time. This is truly a tragedy,” Cooper said.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Coroner’s Office, Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team and Gurnee Police Department.