Woman, 84, Crashes Into Farkas Funeral Home: Joliet Police

JOLIET — The Joliet Police Department said a Wednesday morning crash has caused substantial damage to the Farkas Funeral Home at 3201 W. Jefferson St. when an 84-year-old woman crashed into the building.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, at 9 a.m., the officers responded to Farkas Funeral Home for a vehicle that struck the building, winding up inside the funeral home.

Officers learned that a Chevrolet Malibu driven by an 84-year-old woman was westbound on West Jefferson Street approaching the intersection at Essington Road.

As the Chevrolet approached the intersection, a sport utility vehicle turned left towards northbound Essington Road from eastbound West Jefferson Street, into the path of the Chevrolet. According to English, police believe the driver of the Chevrolet swerved to avoid a collision with the SUV, and her vehicle crossed Essington Road, leaving the roadway on the west side of the street.

The Chevrolet continued through the parking lot of Farkas Funeral Home and ultimately hit the south wall of the funeral home.

The driver of the Chevrolet was taken to Ascension St. Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department with minor injuries.

At the time of a Joliet Police Department news release, the vehicle remained approximately five feet inside the building, which was formerly known as Woodlawn Funeral Home.

By late morning, the vehicle had been removed, and funeral director Jim Farkas said the business had received approval from city building inspectors to continue operating as significant repairs are done.

He told Patch a funeral set for Wednesday afternoon will be held as planned in a different part of the building, as will at least three other funerals scheduled there between now and Monday.

Farkas said no one was in the building when the crash happened. Substantial repairs are renovations will need to be done on the front of the building, he added.