Coroner IDs Man, Teen Killed In Fiery Crash

FOX LAKE, IL — The Lake County Coroner’s Office has identified a man and teen killed in a fiery crash in Fox Lake following a police chase that started in Genoa City, Wis., authorities said. The crash took place at 7:21 p.m. Sunday on Route 173 near North Converse Road following a police pursuit.

The driver, a 28-year-old Chicago man, was taken to Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry where he was pronounced dead. He’s been identified as Theopolis Owens, of Chicago.

A passenger in his car, 18-year-old Kayla Crews, of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, also dies, according to authorities.

Preliminary autopsy results show both died of blunt force injuries caused by a motor vehicle crash. Toxicology results are pending.

Another passenger in the car, Mya Janczak, 18, of Waukegan, remained hospitalized Tuesday, Fox Lake Police Chief Jimmy Lee told the Daily Herald. He said he did not have an update on her condition.

According to a release from the Fox Lake Police Department, early information shows the police first tried to pull over the 1994 Toyota Camry for speeding in Genoa City, Wisconsin. The driver refused to stop, and a pursuit began, police said.

The chase continued into Illinois and went through different jurisdictions, police said.

As the Camry was driving east on Route 173 through Spring Grove, a Spring Grove Police Department officer responded to help in the pursuit, according to the release.

Police said the car then traveled into Fox Lake and was coming up to the area of North Converse Road when the driver lost control of the car, and the car went off the road on the north side of IL Route 173, hitting several trees. A fire broke out as a result of the crash, according to the release.

According to the release, police said no Fox Lake officers were involved in the chase.

A driver passing by and officers were able to help remove the Camry's driver and passengers, and the three were taken to local hospitals, where the man who was driving the Camry and one of the passengers were pronounced dead, according to the release.

As of Sunday, a second passenger in the car was hospitalized in serious condition, police added.

Patch will update this story as new information becomes available.