WHAT: Four Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash
WHERE: US Route 45 at 1190 N. Road, Iroquois County
WHEN: December 12, 2022 at approximately 5:12 p.m.
VEHICLES: Unit 1 – 2016 Black Mercedes Benz GLE 350
Unit 2 – 2003 Black Jeep Wrangler
Unit 3 – 2004 Green Ford F150
Unit 4 – 2016 White Toyota Camry
DRIVERS: Unit 1 – Krista A. Woltz-Hernandez, 44-year-old female from Buckley, IL – Deceased
Unit 2 – Julie L. McGowan, 65-year-old female from Rantoul, IL – Deceased
Unit 3 – Marco A. Perez Bernal, 36-year-old male from Onarga, IL – Transported to an area hospital with injuries.
Unit 4 – Cassandra L. Sosa, 21-year-old female from Rantoul, IL – Uninjured
PASSENGERS: Unit 4 – Juan M. Rodriguez, 21-year-old male from Paxton, IL – Uninjured
Unit 4 – Laura E. Rodriguez, 47-year-old female from Paxton, IL – Uninjured
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ADD ONE/FATAL CRASH
PRELIMINARY: A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling southbound on US Route 45 near 1190 N. Road, while being pursued by the Paxton Police Department and the Ford County Sheriff’s Department, when the driver lost control of the vehicle. Unit 1 crossed over the center line and struck Unit 2, which was traveling northbound, head on. This caused Unit 1 to spin out and crash into Unit 3 which was also traveling northbound. Unit 1 then went into a spinout and flipped multiple times coming to a rest on the west side of the road. Unit 4 drove over debris and sustained a flat right rear tire. The drivers of Unit 1 and 2 were both pronounced deceased on scene. The driver of Unit 3 was transported to an area hospital with injuries.
The Illinois State Police (ISP) District 21 and ISP Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 3 is conducting the investigation. The investigation is open and ongoing and no further information is available at this time.
