ATV Fatality In Joliet: Teen Girl Dies After Recent Wreck

JOLIET — The Joliet Police Department announced that the 18-year-old girl who crashed an all-terrain vehicle earlier this month in the Plainfield area has died.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, the 18-year-old girl who was driving the ATV died Saturday afternoon in Chicago at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The victim has been identified as Violeta Lara of Joliet.

Joliet police previously said that on Aug. 4, at 5:29 p.m., officers responded to Howland Drive and Hadrian Drive for a crash involving an ATV.

A preliminary investigation of the crash determined that Lara was driving the ATV, and she had a 15-year-old boy riding behind her as the passenger. The ATV overturned while attempting to make a turn at the intersection, causing both Lara and her 15-year-old passenger to fall off the ATV.

Lara suffered serious injuries and was taken to Ascension St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department and then airlifted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago later the same evening.

The male passenger was not injured in the crash.

It is believed no other vehicles were involved, Joliet police pointed out.

This crash remains under investigation. Anyone with video footage or information regarding this crash investigation is urged to contact the Joliet Police Department Traffic Unit at 815-724-3193.