The family of a 44-year-old mother is calling for charges against a driver that was allegedly street racing and caused a crash in Waukegan that left the woman dead and her three children injured.
The Waukegan Police Department and Waukegan Fire Department responded around 9:34 p.m. on March 25 to the intersection of Lewis Avenue and Bonnie Brook Lane in Waukegan for a vehicle crash with injuries.
Waukegan Police Commander Scott Chastain said officers located two vehicles off the roadway on the southwest corner of the intersection.
A black 2004 Acura had come to a rest facing southwest with its left side up against the right side of a silver Volkswagen.
Firefighters with the Waukegan Fire Department discovered the driver of the Volkswagen, a 44-year-old Waukegan woman, was dead on the scene, Chastain said.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek said the woman was identified as Ana Garibay.
Garibay died as a result of blunt force injuries from the crash, an autopsy confirmed.
The front right passenger of the Volkswagen, a 23-year-old woman, was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
She suffered a broken hip, broken left arm, broken pelvis, broken right foot and pancreatic laceration.
She was reportedly transferred to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Chastain said.
The rear left passenger of the Volkswagen, a juvenile, was flown to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital with a broken femur.
The rear right passenger, also a juvenile, was transported to Vista Medical Center East with unknown injuries.
The driver of the Acura, a 20-year-old Waukegan man, was transported to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan with non-life-threatening injuries.
Iris Gomez, the niece of Garibay, said her aunt “was the definition of an angel” and she would help anyone at any time.
“She was a person you knew regardless of the situation or who it was she would do everything in her power to help. God needed an angel and took her from us. Everyone is hurting so much her daughters recently found out the news and are in so much pain,” Gomez said.
“As a family we are trying to be supportive and help but how do we take the pain away from them losing the women who gave birth to them and was so supportive with any decisions they made in life. My tia will forever be missed,” she added.
A GoFundMe account has raised almost $6,000 for the family to help pay for Garibay’s funeral expenses. She leaves behind three daughters, who were also involved in the crash.
Chastain said a witness informed investigators with the Waukegan Police Department’s Traffic Division that they saw a vehicle traveling southbound on Lewis Avenue at a high rate of speed.
Two vehicles appeared to start racing each other at the intersection of Lewis Avenue and York House Road.
Investigators recovered video evidence that showed the Volkswagen failing to come to a complete stop and entering the intersection of Lewis Avenue and Bonnie Brook Lane.
The Volkswagen then stopped in the intersection and was struck by the Acura, which was traveling at an extremely high rate of speed, Chastain said.
The driver of the Acura provided consent for his car to be searched. He also provided a blood and urine sample, which are pending lab results.
There were no initial indications he was chemically impaired, Chastain said.
The driver of the Acura was taken into custody for driving on a suspended license after being released from Vista Medical Center East.
He was later released and the investigation will be reviewed with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office for further criminal charges, Chastain said.
Univision Chicago reported that the family of Garibay has called for criminal charges against the driver of the Acura.
During an interview with the news station, Garibay’s mother wept as she talked about how much she loved her daughter.