Miguel Cruz Died From 2016 Jefferson Street Wreck: Coroner

JOLIET, IL - The recent death of Miguel Cruz, a 24-year-old man who worked in Bolingbrook for WeatherTech and was a graduate of Joliet West High School, has been attributed to injuries Cruz suffered during a car crash of more than a year ago, the Will County Coroner's Office determined. A recent obituary published by Fred C. Dames Funeral Home indicated that Cruz died on October 6 at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center. On Tuesday, Joliet Patch spoke with the Joliet Police Department, and police officials confirmed Cruz was involved in a horrific West Jefferson Street crash way back on August 28, 2016.

Eyewitnesses later told Joliet police that Cruz, who was almost 23, was driving a 2012 Hyundai Sonata at a high-rate of speed and swerving while headed westbound on West Jefferson Street, according to Joliet police. Shortly before midnight, near Joyce Road, Cruz lost control of the car. He struck a tree and veered into the business parking lot of the CARQUEST store. He hit an unoccupied parked truck and also a metal sign post, police said. His car caught on fire. Cruz's front-seat passenger, a 22-year-old man, was able to escape and suffered minor injuries. Witnesses called 911. Joliet officers raced to the scene and found Cruz, who was unconscious, trapped inside the car, which was engulfed in flames.

RELATED: Obituary Miguel Cruz

Officers used their extinguishers to douse the flames while the Joliet Fire Department was on its way. The car fire was put out. The Joliet firefighters extricated Cruz from the car. An ambulance rushed Cruz to the nearby Saint Joseph's hospital. According to Joliet police, Cruz suffered bleeding on his brain and had significant spinal cord injuries. Police reports indicated he had been paralyzed.

On Tuesday, Joliet police officials told Patch that their investigation into the West Jefferson Street crash found that Cruz was above the legal limit to be driving under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, police said, there was no indication Cruz was wearing a seat belt.

Image of Miguel Cruz via Fred C. Dames Funeral Home