Authorities Work To ID 3 Killed In Sunday Crash In Gurnee

GURNEE, IL — The Lake County Coroner's Office is continuing to work to identify three people killed after a sport utility vehicle crashed into a tree and caught on fire over the weekend in Gurnee.

On Monday, Lake County Coroner Chief Deputy Chief Steve Newton said autopsies performed on the three killed in the early Sunday collision revealed they all died from blunt force injuries.

"Positive identification of the three victims is still pending at this time and will be released upon completion within the coming days," Newton said in a statement. The identification of the three victims, who are believed to be men in their late 20s to mid-30s, is being "hindered by the condition" of their bodies following the car fire, Newton told Patch.

"We have tentative IDs but are working with the families to obtain dental records and possibly DNA to confirm identification," he said.

Authorities found the three people dead inside the SUV, which was on fire, shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday in the area of Route 132 and North Greenleaf Street in Gurnee. The Gurnee Fire Department was called to the scene to extinguish the fire.

Grand Avenue between First and North Greenleaf streets was closed in both directions following the collision, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.