Fatal Crash Near Elmhurst Under Investigation: Sheriff

ELMHURST, IL – Seven weeks later, a fatal multi-car crash near Elmhurst that involved an ambulance remains under investigation, authorities said this week.

Patch filed a public records request for the crash reports more than a month ago. This week, the DuPage County Sheriff's Office said the reports have not been completed.

The office said a countywide task force known as MERIT was called to the crash and is still looking into it. The reports are expected to be done in three to four weeks.

Maria Guadalupe Cerritos, 34, of Hillside, was killed in the April 9 crash, according to the DuPage County Coroner's Office.

The crash took place about 7 a.m. April 9 on Roosevelt Road, near the Interstate 294 interchange, southeast of Elmhurst.

According to the Sheriff's Office, an out-of-service Elite ambulance struck black ice, causing the driver to lose control.

In response, other cars hit each other. One of the drivers, Cerritos, got out to inspect the damage when an oncoming Dodge Durango appeared to have lost control on the black ice and struck her, authorities said.

The driver of the Dodge Durango was cited on a charge of failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, the Sheriff's Office said.

The ambulance driver was not ticketed, according to sheriff's information last month.