The coroner has released the identity of an 18-year-old man who was killed after a driver caused a five-vehicle crash that left a second teen seriously injured in Beach Park.
An autopsy performed Monday showed Omar Gutierrez, 18, of Waukegan, died as a result of blunt force injuries, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Beach Park Fire Department responded around 11:45 p.m. Saturday to the intersection of Lewis Avenue and Leland Avenue in Beach Park for a multi-vehicle collision with injuries.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said deputies arrived to find five vehicles involved.
Several of the vehicles involved sustained significant damage.
A preliminary investigation showed a Toyota Avalon, driven by a 21-year-old Zion man, was traveling southbound on Lewis Avenue just south of Leland Avenue, Covelli said.
The driver of the Toyota failed to slow down for traffic ahead and collided with a southbound Dodge Journey, driven by a 29-year-old Zion man.
Covelli said the Toyota then struck a southbound Nissan Sentra, driven by a 37-year-old woman from Waukegan.
The Toyota crossed into the northbound lanes and collided head-on with a Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Gutierrez.
A northbound Ford Edge narrowly avoided the collision but was damaged by debris from the crash, Covelli said.
Gutierrez suffered critical injuries and was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The driver of the Toyota was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.
Covelli said a 17-year-old Waukegan boy, who was a passenger in the Toyota, was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
The driver of the Dodge was treated for minor injuries at an area hospital and the driver of the Nissan was uninjured.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Team.