Pedestrian Killed In Larkin Crash ID'd: Coroner

JOLIET — On the last day of the year, a 55-year-old Joliet woman who was outside walking on the city's west side was killed along Larkin Avenue when she was hit by a car before sunrise.

The Will County Coroner's Office identified the woman as Joy Gaines of Joliet. Gaines was pronounced dead at 7:08am at Ascension St. Josephs Medical Center.

Joliet police said the crash happened at 5:29 a.m.

According to police spokesman Dwayne English, officers responded to the intersection of North Larkin Avenue and Vernon Avenue for a traffic crash involving a pedestrian. A Nissan Sentra driven by a 25-year-old Joliet man was northbound on North Larkin Avenue approaching Vernon Avenue in the inside lane, at which time the Sentra struck Gaines, who appeared to be crossing the roadway at the time of the crash.

Gaines was brought to the nearby St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department, where she died. The driver of the Sentra remained at the scene of the crash and was not injured.

The roadway was closed for a period of time as traffic investigators reconstructed the crash scene. The crash remains under active investigation, police said.

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