Coroner IDs 2 Killed In 2 McHenry Co. Crashes

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL – The McHenry County Coroner has identified the two women killed in two separate crashes over a three-hour period Wednesday night. The first, a two-vehicle crash, happened at 9:39 p.m. Wednesday in the 17000 block of Route 176 in unincorporated Union. On Friday, McHenry County Coroner Anne Majewski identified the 27-year-old Rockford woman killed in that crash as Sarah E. Wells.

Autopsy results on Friday showed Wells died from blunt trauma to the head, neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis, Majewski said. Authorities believe distracted driving may have contributed to the crash. A second driver in the crash was critically injured

The second crash, also a two-vehicle collission, occurred in the 9800 block of Route 173 in unincorporated Hebron Township at 12:17 a.m. Thursday. A 44-year-old Woodstock woman killed in that crash has been identified as Silvia Ortiz-Ayala. She died from blunt trauma to the spine, chest and abdomen, Majewski said.

That crash happened when the driver of a 2004 Mazda Tribute a 20-year-old Woodstock woman, hit a snow patch, lost control of the car, crossed the center line and struck a 2010 Dodge Journey travelling east on Route 173, according to the coroner's office.

Ortiz-Ayala was the front seat passenger in the Mazda and was taken to Mercy Hospital in Harvard where she was pronounced dead.

The 20-year-old driver of the Mazda and the driver of the Dodge, a 56-year-old Twin Lakes woman, were both taken to local hospitals where they listed in stable condition following the crash. Both suffered injuries that are not considered life-threatening, police said.

Airbags deployed in both vehicles following the crash. Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be a factor in the collision.

The first collision near Union happened when a 2005 Honda Civic traveling west on Route 176 veered into oncoming traffic and collided with an eastbound 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Wells was driving the Honda and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a news release from the McHenry County Sheriff's Office.

The driver of the Jeep, a 24-year-old Marengo man, was transported by Marengo Rescue to Centegra Hospital in Huntley. He was later transported to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where he remained in critical but stable condition.

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. It is unknown if alcohol or drug use may have contributed to the traffic crash.

Condition updates on those who were injured were not immediately available.

An investigation is underway into both crashes.

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