Coroner IDs Man, 18, Killed In 5-Vehicle Crash

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Lake County Coroner's Office has identified an 18-year-old man killed in a five-vehicle crash Saturday night.

Omar Gutierrez, of Waukegan, died from blunt force injuries, according to preliminary results from an autopsy.

• 1 Dead, 3 Injured In 5-Vehicle Lake County Crash

The crash happened at about 11:45 p.m. when a Toyota Avalon, which was headed south on Lewis Avenue south of Leland Avenue, collided with a southbound Dodge Journey after failing to slow down for traffic, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The Toyota then ran into a southbound Nissan Sentra before crossing into the northbound lanes and colliding head-on with a Chevrolet Malibu.

A northbound Ford Eagle narrowly missed the crash but was damaged by debris from the collision.

The driver of the Malibu, who has been identified as Gutierrez, was taken to a local hospital with critical injuries and later pronounced dead, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. The driver of the Avalon, a 21-year-old Zion man, and a 17-year-old passenger in his car, were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the Dodge Journey, a 29-year-old Zion man, sustained minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital. The driver of the Nissan Sentra was not injured.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.