Public Defender Employee Still Hospitalized After Deadly Crash

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Police Department has confirmed the identity of the 46-year-old woman involved in the fiery, deadly wreck along Glenwood Avenue March 15 that killed a 50-year-old doctor who lived in Aurora.

On Tuesday, a Joliet newspaper reported that the woman, who is still hospitalized, is Maria Aiello and that she works as an investigator for the Will County Public Defender's Office of Michael Renzi.

In February 2017, the Will County Public Defender's Office issued a news release proclaiming that Maria Jovita Aiello was hired as a criminal defense investigator. However, that particular news release has since been deleted from the website.

"I can confirm the name of the driver that is currently hospitalized is Maria Aiello as listed in The Herald-News article," Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English told Patch. "I have no confirmation where Ms. Aiello is employed at this time."

The March 15 crash happened around 8:15 p.m., killing Dr. Ednalice Pagan-Romney, a licensed psychologist from Aurora who had an office on nearby Hammes Avenue. Her car burst into flames after being rear-ended by Aiello's vehicle.

So far, no traffic citations or criminal charges have been filed in connection with the Glenwood Avenue crash.

"I’m told that the driver is still in the hospital at Loyola," Joliet police's spokesman told Joliet Patch on Monday. "This is an extensive investigation and this case continues to be a priority for the traffic unit. It's definitely an active investigation."

English also told Joliet Patch it is quite common for police not to bring charges while someone is still receiving medical care, especially if their injuries are serious, as appears to be the case in the Glenwood Avenue crash involving Aiello.

According to the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, Dr. Pagan-Romney was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. She moved to Aurora in 2008 to pursue a doctorate degree in clinical psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, which she obtained in 2015. She is survived by her husband of 27 years and her two children.