Authorities have identified a 25-year-old Woodstock woman who was killed last week in a four-vehicle crash near Marengo.
A preliminary autopsy showed Maria Flores-Hernandez, 25, of Woodstock, died as a result of blunt force trauma, according to the McHenry County Coroner’s Office.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts responded around 4:38 p.m. Wednesday to Route 23 and River Road in unincorporated Marengo for a multiple-vehicle crash with injuries.
Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts spokesman Alex Vucha said fire crews arrived and found a semi-truck and three passenger vehicles involved, which sustained moderate to heavy damage.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said that a preliminary investigation shows a 2014 Kenworth semi-tractor trailer, driven by a 47-year-old Joliet man, was driving southbound on Route 23 approaching the intersection at River Road.
For unknown reasons, a 2008 Pontiac G6, driven by Flores-Hernandez, failed to yield and pulled out into the intersection causing the Kenworth to crash into the driver’s side of the Pontiac, the sheriff’s office said.
A 2014 Nissan Rogue, driven by a 63-year-old Marengo woman and occupied by an 18-year-old passenger, and a 2001 Jeep Cherokee, driven by a 27-year-old Harvard man, were both driving northbound on Route 23 at the same intersection.
The Nissan and Jeep subsequently crashed into the Kenworth semi-truck and Pontiac as they were coming to a rest.
Flores-Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Jeep was transported to Northwestern Huntley Hospital with minor injuries.
The driver and passenger of the Nissan along with the driver of the Kenworth were all treated and released at the scene.
Alcohol is not believed to be a contributing factor to the crash, the sheriff’s office said.
The Marengo Police Department, McHenry County Conservation District Police Department, Huntley Fire Protection District and Woodstock Fire Protection District also responded to the scene.
The investigation is ongoing by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office.