Lake County Sheriff’s Traffic Crash Investigators concluded their investigation of this crash. Crash investigators were able to determine the driver of the Dodge, Jarelle D. Brown, 28, of the 2200 block of Carmel Boulevard, Zion, was driving excessively fast, in excess of 75 miles per hour, prior to striking the Toyota.
Additionally, Brown was found to be driving under an intoxicating level of cannabis during the crash. On March 15, 2023, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office presented the facts of the crash to a Lake County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury issued a True Bill of Indictment for Brown for:
Two Counts of Reckless Homicide
Two Counts of Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis
Following the indictment, a Lake County Judge issued an arrest warrant for Brown and set bond at $1,000,000.00. Brown has been made aware of the arrest warrant, however, has not surrendered himself to law enforcement.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Infant and Adult Killed in Traffic Crash
(issued 10/30/2022)
On October 29, 2022, at approximately 4:15 p.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to North Green Bay Road near Atlantic Avenue, unincorporated Waukegan, for a traffic crash with injuries. Deputies arrived and found two vehicles with major damage.
Preliminary investigation shows a Dodge Journey, driven by a 34-year-old man of Zion, was traveling northbound on Green Bay Road. A Toyota Corolla, driven by a 27-year-old man of Waukegan, entered the roadway from a private parking lot on the east side of the roadway, in front of the Dodge. This resulted in a ‘T-Bone’ type crash where the Toyota was struck on the driver’s side by the Dodge.
An eight-month-old boy of Waukegan in the Toyota, restrained in a car seat in the seat behind the driver, was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center with critical injuries, where he was later pronounced deceased. A 29-year-old woman of Waukegan in the Toyota, who was in the front passenger seat, was pronounced deceased at the scene. A seven-year-old boy of Waukegan in the Toyota, seated in the seat behind the front seat passenger, was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center with serious injuries, as was the driver of the Toyota.
The driver of the Dodge was transported to Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan with serious injuries. Two passengers in the Dodge, a 19-year-old man of Beach Park and 24-year-old man of Zion were transported to Vista East Medical Center with minor injuries.
The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Unit.