Funeral services are being held Thursday evening for a “devoted” Waukegan mother who died when a drunk driver crashed into a semi-truck on I-94 near Gurnee, as her family says she “left a lasting impression on everyone.”
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.
An obituary for Perez said she was a “devoted” and “loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend whose beautiful spirit touched the lives of so many.”
“Maria was known for her kind heart, fun spirit, and the way she could light up every room she walked into. Her smile was unforgettable, her laughter contagious, and her love for others endless. She had a special gift for making people feel welcomed, cared for, and appreciated,” her obituary 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 Perez for an autopsy.
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.
“Whether you knew her for years or only briefly, Maria left a lasting impression on everyone she met,” her obituary said, adding that her son was the center of her world and greatest pride.
Perez was the front desk manager at Tricoci Salon and Spa in Vernon Hills, one of her co-workers said.
She was also a pop-up coordinator for Community Outreach Waukegan, the group’s founder, Miguel A. Rivera Sr., said.
A GoFundMe account has raised over $10,500 with a $12,000 goal by 160 donors for the family’s unexpected funeral expenses.
“Maria had countless friends who became family throughout her life. She truly lived life to the fullest — as many would lovingly say, ‘She was everywhere menos en su casa.’ Her energy, adventurous spirit, and love for enjoying every moment made her unforgettable to everyone around her,” her obituary said.
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.
During the detention hearing, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Windmoeller said Martinez admitted to driving 15 mph over the posted speed limit, which is 65 mph in that section.
Martinez has a background of reckless driving, including speeding, Windmoeller said, adding that she had four convictions for driving offenses in one year.
Defense attorney Jed Stone, who is representing Martinez, argued for his client’s release pending trial and said there was a combination of conditions that could mitigate any danger she poses.
Stone said Martinez has a 5-year-old daughter and lives at home with her parents.
He argued that Martinez should be released so she can see a counselor to deal with the drinking and with taking the life of another person. “She feels that,” Stone said.
Windmoeller responded by saying that Perez was also a mother whose child no longer has a mother.
Lake County Judge James Newman said called it a “tragic situation” but told Martinez it occurred because of her actions.
The judge said the situation was compounded by speeding, drinking and being distracted on the cell phone. “Millions of decisions that night caused your friend to no longer be with us,” Newman said, adding that many people’s lives changed after the crash.
Newman denied the state’s petition to detain Martinez, saying that he struggled with the ruling because she does not have prior DUIs on her record but that he believed conditions could mitigate the threat she poses.
Martinez was placed on Level 4 pre-trial supervision, which includes no alcohol or drugs, and ordered to be fitted with an alcohol monitoring device. She was also ordered to abide by a curfew and not to drive.
Funeral services are being held Thursday evening for Perez, with a visitation taking place from 4-9 p.m. at The Memorial Chapel of Waukegan.
She is scheduled to appear in court again on June 25 for a preliminary hearing.