Authorities say a 23-week-old fetus died at a Lake Forest hospital days after a woman in her 20s was left injured in a vehicle crash that occurred on Interstate 90.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded around 11:30 a.m. Saturday to Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital for a death investigation.
The labor and delivery team reported a stillbirth from a woman in her late 20s, who is an Evanston resident, according to Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton.
Newton said the coroner’s office would typically not have been called to investigate but it was learned that the mother had recently been involved in a vehicle crash.
The Illinois State Police said they responded around 7 p.m. on December 27 with the Hoffman Estates Fire Department to eastbound Interstate 90 at milepost 64 near Schaumburg for a vehicle crash with injuries.
Troopers found a two-vehicle crash involving a 2011 Kia Forte and a 2024 Toyota Highlander, according to state police.
A 55-year-old Morton Grove man was driving the Toyota and suffered injuries that required transport to the hospital.
State police said a 28-year-old Evanston woman was driving the Kia and also suffered injuries that required her transport to the hospital.
She was transported to Ascension Alexian Brothers in Elk Grove Village and later released after being treated, Newton said.
The woman, who was at 23 weeks, went to Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital where the stillbirth occurred.
The coroner’s office took possession of the fetus and performed an autopsy on Monday.
Newton said the results of the autopsy are pending further studies to determine whether the crash caused or contributed to the death.