reckless homicide Waukegan : Man Charged with Reckless Homicide After Fatal Three-Vehicle Crash in Waukegan

A man has been charged with reckless homicide following a fatal three-vehicle crash in Waukegan. Francisco J. Martinez, 50, allegedly drove through a red light, causing the accident that resulted in the death of a 64-year-old woman. Martinez now faces two counts of reckless homicide, which is a Class 3 felony.

The charges were brought by a grand jury in Lake County, who returned a two-count indictment against Martinez. The incident occurred on February 28, 2021, at the intersection of Lewis Avenue and York House Road. Emergency services were called to the scene after reports of a crash with injuries.

Multiple vehicles were involved in the collision, and paramedics were dispatched to provide medical assistance. Unfortunately, the 64-year-old victim, identified as Maria Gloria from Kenosha, did not survive her injuries. She was pronounced dead at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville two hours after the accident.

An autopsy performed by the Lake County Coroner’s Office determined that Gloria’s cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the crash. The collision caused significant damage to the vehicles involved.

The indictment alleges that Martinez acted recklessly by driving above the speed limit and ignoring a red traffic light. He then veered into oncoming traffic, colliding with another vehicle in which Gloria was a passenger.

Following the grand jury indictment, an arrest warrant was issued for Martinez, who resides in Waukegan. He will now face legal proceedings in connection with the charges brought against him. The incident resulted in the closure of sections of Lewis Avenue for approximately eight hours.

The tragic accident serves as a reminder of the importance of obeying traffic laws and exercising caution while driving. Reckless behavior behind the wheel can have devastating consequences, as demonstrated by this incident.