Authorities have identified an Elgin man and Marengo woman who both died following a two-vehicle crash near Marengo last week.
An autopsy showed Julie Greis, 51, of Marengo, died of blunt force injuries from a vehicle crash, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Winnebago County Coroner’s Office said the second victim was identified as Carlos Valencia, 34, of Elgin.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Marengo Police Department, Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts, Woodstock Fire Protection District and Huntley Fire Protection District responded around 4:54 p.m. on September 29 to Route 23 and Coral Road in unincorporated Marengo for a vehicle crash.
Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts Communications Specialist Alex Vucha said first responders arrived and found two heavily damaged vehicles with three victims trapped inside the cars.
A preliminary investigation shows that a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro was traveling northbound on Route 23. A 2012 Honda Civic was traveling westbound on Coral Road.
The two vehicles crashed in the northeast portion of the intersection of Route 23 and Coral Rd, which is equipped with a four-way stoplight, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver of the Camaro, identified as Greis, was the only occupant in her vehicle.
She was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Huntley and later flown by helicopter to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where she died from her injuries.
The driver of the Honda, a 26-year-old Rockford woman, and her passenger, identified as Valencia, were both extricated from the vehicle by firefighters.
The two were flown by medical helicopter to Javon Bea Hospital in Rockford with life-threatening injuries. Valencia was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Seatbelts were not worn by any of the occupants in either vehicle, the sheriff’s office said.
Drugs are believed to be a contributing factor but police have not said which driver caused the crash.
The investigation is ongoing by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit.