Police say a Zion woman, who was driving on a revoked license, is believed to have gone through a red light and struck another vehicle, killing its driver, Saturday in Waukegan.
The Waukegan Fire Department, Beach Park Fire Department, and Waukegan Police Department responded around 12 p.m. Saturday to Wadsworth Road and Lewis Avenue in Waukegan.
Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Joe Florip said officers responded to a call of a serious vehicle crash involving four vehicles.
The Waukegan Police Department Major Crash Unit was activated to investigate the crash.
An investigation by the MCU shows a white 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe was traveling northbound on Lewis Avenue attempting to cross the intersection at Wadsworth Road.
It is believed that the Tahoe entered the intersection on a red light, Florip said.
The Tahoe struck a black 2014 Chevy Malibu that was traveling westbound on Wadsworth Road.
The driver of the Malibu, a Waukegan man in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was in the Malibu.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office scheduled an autopsy for later this week. The victim’s identity will be released once his family has been notified.
The driver of the Tahoe, a Zion woman in her 40s, was driving on a revoked driver’s license and was wanted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office on a failure to appear warrant for aggravated battery.
The MCU believes the main factors in the crash to be the Tahoe speeding and disobeying the traffic control device, Florip said.
The female driver of the Tahoe was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries.
The investigation is considered open and active. MCU officers are still trying to determine if safety belts were used in either vehicle and if impairment was a factor in the crash.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office will be reviewing the case for potential charges.
Two other vehicles were involved but they only suffered light contact and were able to drive away from the scene without needing to be towed.
No one in those vehicles required any medical attention, Florip said.
“I am incredibly proud of the men and women of the Waukegan Police Department that responded to this unnecessary tragedy and the work they did,” Waukegan Police Chief Wayne Walles said.
“I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Zion Police Department. Both agencies responded the moment this incident occurred and assisted us until we cleared the scene. The amount of professionalism and assistance both provided, were second to none,” Walles said.