Joliet Woman Dies Following Two-Vehicle Crash

Photo courtesy of Thomas Townsend

JOLIET, IL — A 63-year-old woman died following a two-vehicle accident at 5th and Gardner Sunday night in Joliet.

While police said the woman did not die from injuries, Will County Coroner Patrick K. O'Neil said that Patricia A. Wells, of Joliet, died from injuries sustained in the crash, according to a preliminary autopsy. What exactly those injuries are, however, are unknown.

Wells passed away at 9:56 p.m. at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center, according to the Will County Coroner's Office.

According to Joliet Deputy Police Chief Ed Gregory, at 8:15 p.m. a Honda Accord driven by a 17-year-old boy ran a stop sign and T-boned a 2003 Ford Explorer.

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The Explorer then moved at a slow speed toward a house in the 100 block of Fifth Avenue where it struck a concrete block on the west side of the house. There was "very minimal damage" to the house, Gregory said.

The Honda struck a tree on the southeast side of the intersection, spun around and came to a stop facing north, Gregory said.

Three women were in the Explorer at the time of the crash. An elderly woman sitting in the back seat went into cardiac arrest following the crash and died, Gregory said, adding that her death was not from any injuries suffered in the crash and the family said she had underlying medical problems.

“The doctors were saying it didn’t appear the accident caused her death,” Gregory said, adding that an autopsy will be performed today. "Unfortunately, it probably scared her to death."

The driver of the Explorer was transported to St. Joseph Medical Center for chest pains and another female passenger was transported for disorientation.

The 17-year-old boy received citations for speeding and failure to stop at a stop sign. He did not suffer any injuries in the crash.