Authorities said that a 12-month-old baby died early Saturday morning when an SUV slammed into the rear of a stopped car on Route 41 in North Chicago.
The North Chicago Police Department and North Chicago Fire Department responded around 4:15 a.m. Saturday to Route 41 and Route 137 for a report of a serious injury crash.
A preliminary investigation revealed a Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling northbound on Route 41 stopped at the red light at Route 137, the Lake County Coroner’s Office said.
A Toyota 4Runner was also northbound on Route 41 and rear-ended the Jeep.
The Jeep was occupied by a 28-year-old male driver, a 26-year-old female in the front-seat passenger and a 12-month-old male infant, who was seated behind the front passenger in a child safety seat.
All victims involved in the crash were transported to Lake Forest Hospital. The 12-month-old boy was later pronounced dead.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office was notified and responded to the hospital.
An autopsy performed on Monday showed the baby died from blunt force trauma to the head, according to the coroner’s office.
He was identified as Mekhi Sutton, of Lithia Springs, Georgia.
The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Coroner’s Office, North Chicago Police Department and the Major Crash Assistance Team of Lake County.