2 Dead In Joliet Township Wreck On Route 53: Coroner

JOLIET, IL — An 80-year-old Joliet man and his 61-year-old passenger both died on Tuesday afternoon following a collision on the edge of Joliet along Route 53 in Preston Heights.

Will County Coroner Laurie Summers announced that the crash victims were Elbert Washington, 80, and Washington's passenger, Michelle Weithers.

Both Joliet residents were pronounced dead shortly after 4 p.m. at the hospital.

The Illinois State Police are investigating the double fatality, noted Summers. Washington's vehicle was hit by another vehicle as he traveled along Route 53 at Louis Road.

According to Jayme Buford of the Illinois State Police public information office, the Joliet Township crash happened around 3:10 p.m.

Buford said the Illinois State Police responded to the two-vehicle crash on Route 53.

While one vehicle headed north, south of Louis Road, the Joliet senior citizen's vehicle was traveling south on Route 53. At that point, Washington tried to make a left turn to go east along Louis Road; the oncoming motorist crashed into Washington's car as Washington crossed the northbound lanes of Route 53, causing the Joliet man's car to overturn.

The driver of the vehicle who hit Washington was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.