Coroner IDs Man, 22, Killed After Jeep Crashes Into Home: Police

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Lake County Coroner's Office has identified the 22-year-old Round Lake Beach man killed after a Jeep ran into a home near Lake Villa on Christmas Eve.

Preliminary results from an autopsy show Axel Maldonado Guerrero died from blunt force injuries to the head as a result of crash, according to the coroner's office press release.

The collision happened at about 7:30 p.m. in the 21300 block of West Engle Drive in unincorporated Lake Villa, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office. Authorities determined a Jeep, driven by Marcos Corona-Vargas, 31, of Round Lake Beach, was headed east on West Engle Drive when it crossed into the westbound lane of traffic, back onto the eastbound lanes of traffic and then off the road.

The Jeep continued into a yard and slammed into a home, which was unoccupied at the time, police said.

Guerrero was sitting in the front seat of the Jeep and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a news release. Another passenger, who was sitting in the back seat of the Jeep, was seriously injured and taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Corona-Vargas also sustained serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment, police said.

Police say Corona-Vargas was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, and charges of reckless homicide and DUI have been filed against him. Once he is released from the hospital, he will be taken to the Lake County Jail.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.