Joliet Woman Dies After Vehicle Crashes Into Building

CREST HILL, IL — The Will County Coroner's Office said 36-year-old Jamie Walsh of Joliet died Wednesday afternoon after being hit by a car in the 1800 block of Knapp Drive in Crest Hill. Walsh worked at the Southern Cafe restaurant, according to Crest Hill Police Chief Ed Clark.

Walsh was standing near the building when a car crashed through a storefront. It also struck a brick pillar outside before shattering the glass and coming to rest inside the business.

"Right now, it's a traffic crash investigation, just a real tragic occurrence," Clark told Joliet Patch on Wednesday night. He said the Will County Sheriff's Office is helping his Crest Hill Police Department reconstruct the crash.

So far, no traffic tickets or criminal charges have been filed, Clark said. Authorities were able to remove the vehicle from the inside of the business, the chief said.

Lockport Township Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Frank Blaskey said that the male driver's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Walsh was pronounced dead at 1:52 p.m. at AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center, according to the coroner's office.

Police said the vehicle crashed into The A's Club, in the same shopping center as the Southern Cafe, just after 1 p.m. Clark said it was his understanding that nobody was inside The A's Club at the time of the crash.

About a dozen first responders from the Crest Hill Police Department, Lockport Township Fire Protection District and Will County Sheriff's Office remained at the scene as of 3:30 p.m.

This is a developing story. Check back with Patch for updates.