Police have released the identity of a Waukegan woman, described as a “beautiful” mother, who died when her friend allegedly drove drunk and slammed into a semi-truck on I-94 near Gurnee.
The Gurnee Fire Department, Libertyville Fire Department and Illinois State Police responded around 5:07 a.m. Saturday to Interstate 94 between Route 120 and O’Plaine Road near Gurnee for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
911 caller(s) reported a car was sideways in lanes 1 and 2 with a victim inside that had a possible broken neck, according to police radio traffic.
The car, a Mazda SUV, was heavily damaged and the second vehicle involved, a semi-tractor-trailer truck, was pulled off onto the right shoulder.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said Priscilla M. Martinez, 29, of Gurnee, was identified as the driver of the Mazda and called 911 to report she had hit a truck and her friend had a broken neck.
State police and family on Monday identified the passenger victim as Maria Conchita Perez, 35, of Waukegan.
Gurnee Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Steffens said the crash involved the two vehicles and the Mazda sustained heavy damage.
The crash occurred in the westbound lanes of Interstate 94 at the 11.75-mile marker.
Paramedics found Martinez and Perez in the Mazda and one adult male in the semi-truck. None of the victims required extrication.
Perez, who was the passenger, suffered life-threatening injuries and was unconscious at the scene, Steffens said.
Perez was transported by ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where she was pronounced dead, Steffens and Illinois State Police said.
Martinez had no serious complaints regarding injuries but was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville for evaluation.
The driver of the semi-truck was uninjured and signed a medical release at the scene declining transport to the hospital.
Illinois State Police said lanes 1, 2 and 3 remained shut down for the investigation for hours until being reopened around 10:45 a.m.
Troopers noted that the Mazda had extensive damage to the front end and the semi-truck had damage to the rear, Katris said.
Martinez told troopers she had three drinks at a bar in Chicago and they were traveling back to Lake County when she struck the rear of the semi-truck. State police said the Mazda was traveling in the right lane at the time.
Martinez had referenced looking at her phone when the crash occurred and said she was traveling 70-80 mph when she hit the truck, Katris said.
Martinez had a breath alcohol concentration of 0.146 when providing a breath sample, Katris said.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the hospital to take possession of the deceased victim for an autopsy, which is expected to be performed on Tuesday.
Waukegan resident Frankie Rosa said Perez was a “beautiful mother, a loving daughter, an amazing friend, and someone who brought light and laughter everywhere she went.”
“She had a kind heart, an outgoing spirit, and a way of making everyone around her feel loved and welcomed. Her smile, energy, and caring soul touched so many lives,” Rosa said.
Perez leaves behind a 17-year-old boy, who faces a life without his mother, her friends and family said.
Perez was a pop-up coordinator for Community Outreach Waukegan, the group’s founder, Miguel A. Rivera Sr., said.
A GoFundMe account has raised over $7,500 with a $9,000 goal by 100 donors for the family’s unexpected funeral expenses.
Martinez was charged with aggravated driving under the influence causing death, driving under the influence of alcohol, improper traffic lane usage, failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash and aggravated using a communication device resulting in death.
Martinez was arrested by ISP special agents after being released from the hospital and was transported to the Lake County Jail.
She appeared in First Appearance Court on Sunday morning.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Martinez pending trial and Lake County Judge Patricia Cornell ordered her held until a detention hearing, which she scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.