The coroner has released the identity of a 33-year-old woman who was killed after she was struck by a truck while crossing the street in Gurnee Wednesday evening.
An autopsy performed Thursday showed that Amber Knowles, 33, of Mundelein, died as a result of blunt force injuries from a vehicle collision, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Gurnee Police Department and Gurnee Fire Department responded around 8:04 p.m. Wednesday to the area of Delany Road and Sunset Avenue for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
A Lake County sheriff’s deputy came upon the scene and found a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said.
The female victim, later identified as Knowles, was unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene, according to Gurnee Fire Department Battalion Chief James Gramer.
Gramer said Knowles was found lying in the roadway on Delany Road south of Sunset Avenue.
An alert was broadcast to area police departments reporting that the vehicle involved had fled the scene.
The vehicle reportedly sustained heavy front-end damage and a description was provided for officers to be on the lookout.
Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor said that further investigation determined the Ford E-450 truck involved had pulled off the roadway into a business following the crash.
The driver was cooperating with officers throughout the investigation, Gaylor said.
Knowles appeared to be crossing Delany Road when she was struck in an area not in a crosswalk.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was called to the scene to conduct an investigation.
Officers shut down both directions of Delany Road from Sunset Avenue to Ryan Road for several hours for the investigation.
The crash remains under investigation by the Gurnee Police Department and MCAT.