Following a thorough investigation, Lake County Sheriff’s Traffic Crash Investigators determined Gabriel Flores, 21, of the 3500 block of Howard Avenue, Park City, was distracted by an electronic device when he crossed the double-yellow center median.  Flores was driving a 2005 Dodge Durango which struck a 2014 Kia Forte head-on.  The driver of the Kia, Stephanie A. Rojas, who was 26-years-old at the time of the crash, of the 2900 block of 31st Street, Zion, was critically injured and pronounced deceased a day after the crash.  

Sheriff’s Crash Investigators reviewed the evidence and facts surrounding the crash with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.  On October 2, 2109, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office presented the facts of the case to a Lake County Grand Jury.  The Grand Jury indicted Flores on counts of:

Four Counts of Reckless Homicide (Class 3 Felonies)

Eight Counts of Aggravated Reckless Driving Causing Great Bodily Harm (Class 4 Felonies)

One Count of Aggravated Use of an Electronic Device While Driving (Class 4 Felony)

Following the indictment, a Lake County Judge issued a warrant for Flores’ arrest and set a bond at $500,000.00.  

All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Update: One Person Dies Due to Injuries 

(issued August 13, 2018)

The driver of the Kia was pronounced deceased yesterday.  The Lake County Coroner’s Office will conduct an autopsy today.  Both juveniles remain in critical condition.  The crash is being investigated as a fatal traffic crash and remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Unit.  

Critical Beach Park Crash 

(issued August 11, 2018)

On August 10, 2018 at approximately 6:04 PM, Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area of Green Bay Rd and Nemesis Ave, Beach Park, for a traffic crash with injuries.

Preliminary investigation shows a 2005 Dodge Durango, driven by a 20-year-old male of Park City, was traveling northbound on Green Bay Rd.  The male crossed the double-yellow center lane divider and entered the southbound lane of traffic.  The Dodge Durango struck a southbound 2014 Kia Forte, driven by a 26-year-old female of Zion.  Also in the Kia were two juveniles, age 6 and age 8.  

The driver of the Dodge sustained non-life-threatening injuries.  The driver of the Kia sustained critical, life-threatening injuries.  Both were transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.  The 8-year-old juvenile was transported to Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan with non-life-threatening injuries.  The 6-year-old juvenile was initially transported to Condell, and later flown to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where he remains with critical injuries.  

The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Unit.