Batavia Girls Injured in Fatal Aurora Crash

AURORA, IL — A 9-year-old girl has died after a man allegedly driving under the influence crashed into a minivan at around 9:10 p.m. Friday.

The child was a passenger in a 2009 Toyota Sienna that was northbound on Broadway Avenue just south of Pierce Street in Aurora. A southbound 2003 Cadillac Deville driven by a 25-year-old Aurora man drifted into the northbound lanes, striking the minivan, according to a news release from the Aurora Police Department. The driver of the Sienna, the child’s 40-year-old mother, tried to avoid colliding with the Cadillac by making a sharp turn to the left, but was unsuccessful. The Cadillac hit the minivan on its passenger side where the child was sitting. The mom was not able to stop until she hit a building on the west side of Broadway.

The driver of the Cadillac ran from the crash scene but was taken into custody without incident near the High Street Bridge that crosses the Burlington Northern Railroad tracks a short distance away, police said. Witnesses assisted Aurora police with descriptions of the man, which aided in his apprehension. He allegedly displayed signs of intoxication when taken into custody.

Aurora Fire Department Paramedics rushed the child, along with two other girls, ages 10 and 12, to Presence Mercy Medical Center. The 9-year-old girl pronounced dead at 9:44 p.m. The other two children suffered non-life threatening injuries. The nine-year old’s mother refused medical treatment. The 25-year-old man was taken to Rush Copley Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.

Charges are pending against the Aurora man.

The victim and her mother are Aurora residents and the other two children live in Batavia. The investigation is still in its preliminary stages and is being handled by the Aurora Police Traffic Division. More information will be released as it becomes available.

photo via Shutterstock