Dead Passenger Identified In Fiery Lake Forest Crash On Route 41

LAKE FOREST, IL — The passenger killed in a fiery crash last week in Lake Forest was identified Wednesday as a Zion woman. Police said a Buick appeared to have been speeding north on Route 41 shortly before 4 a.m. on Friday as it approached a left bend north of Westleigh Road before the highway goes under the railroad tracks. The car left the road, hit several trees and caught fire.

Sierra Riley, 20, was riding in the front seat of the four-door sedan, according to Lake Forest police. She did not make it out of the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Paramedics took a man identified as the driver, a 30-year-old Zion man, and a 27-year-old North Chicago man, who investigators believe was the back seat passenger on the right side, to Condell Hospital. They were later airlifted to Loyola Medical Center, where they both remain hospitalized Wednesday, according to Deputy Chief Rob Copeland.

A 21-year-old Grayslake woman who appeared to have been riding behind the driver suffered minor injuries and was released after being treated at Condell. The Lake County's Coroner's Office continues to investigate Riley's cause and manner of death, according to Copeland.

The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team is continuing an investigation into the cause of the crash. No citations or charges have been filed in connection with the crash pending the completion of that investigation.

The speed limit on Route 41 in the area where the crash occurred is 45 mph. But crash site investigators believe the Buick was travelling at a significantly higher speed at the time of the crash, Copeland said.

Earlier: 1 Dead, 3 Injured In Fiery Rollover Crash In Lake Forest