Teen Dies After Driving Her Car Into Lake: Grundy County Coroner

COAL CITY, IL — The Grundy County Coroner John Callahan’s Office issued a press release on Monday confirming the fatal crash on Jugtown Road. The deadly incident in the Coal City area was discovered around 11 p.m. on Sunday.

Preliminary investigations indicate a vehicle driven by 18-year-old Alexis Kay Higgins-Weatherhead of Coal City was northbound on Jugtown Road when she lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle went off the east side of Jugtown approximately 200 yards north of Deerfield Drive. The vehicle traveled through the ditch, striking some small trees before entering the lake, Callahan noted.

It is unclear as to what time the incident occurred and how she lost control of the vehicle. The crash remains under investigation by Callahan’s office and the Sheriff’s department. Coal City Fire Department was on the scene and assisted by several agencies in the recovery of the vehicle.

On Monday, Grundy County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Paul Clampitt told Joliet Patch that authorities were able to track Alexis' whereabouts through her phone. She was supposed to work at the Walmart in Morris on Sunday at 9 a.m., but she failed to show up, which sparked concern.

He believes the fatal crash may have happened between 8 and 8:30 a.m. on Sunday. Clampitt said that an autopsy has been scheduled, and he was not sure whether Alexis died as a result of blunt force trauma suffered in the crash or by drowning in the lake.

He said the lake is only about 40 feet or so from the road, where Alexis lost control of her car for unknown reasons. "The car rolled and ended up in the water," he explained.

Clampitt said the location of Sunday's fatality is considered unincorporated Coal City and Morris. It's in the Goose Lake area, he pointed out.

The speed limit along Jugtown Road is 55 mph, he said.