Investigators have cited a driver who ran a red light and caused a crash that left a woman seriously injured after she was ejected from an SUV that rolled over in Zion.
The Zion Fire Rescue Department, Beach Park Fire Department and Zion Police Department responded around 10:53 a.m. on July 30 to the area of 27th Street and Lewis Avenue in Zion for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
Witnesses called 911 to report the crash and officers arrived and found a two-vehicle crash involving a Jeep and a Mazda, according to Zion Police Department Lt. Derek Zaloudek.
An investigation showed the black 2017 Jeep Wrangler was driving eastbound on 27th Street.
The Jeep collided with the blue 2021 Mazda CX-5, driven by Carmen Martinez, 68, of Beach Park, as it traveled northbound on Lewis Avenue at 27th Street, Zaloudek said.
The Jeep was driven by a 50-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman was a passenger.
The female passenger was ejected after the Jeep rolled over during the crash.
She suffered significant head trauma and was transported to the hospital where she was stabilized, Zaloudek said.
Martinez was also hospitalized with significant injuries. Both of them survived.
The Jeep ultimately came to rest upright off the road on the northeast side of the intersection, Zaloudek said.
The Mazda spun from the impact and came to rest in the intersection.
Lewis Avenue was shut down from 26th Street to 29th Street for approximately two hours during the investigation.
Zaloudek said in an update late this week that Martinez, the driver of the Mazda, was found to be at fault.
She was cited for disobeying a traffic control device and failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.
Video surveillance obtained from the surrounding area confirmed that Martinez disobeyed the light, Zaloudek said.