Coroner identifies 83

The coroner has identified an 83-year-old woman who died after she crashed into a semi-truck hauling fuel on Route 12 near Wauconda Saturday morning.

An autopsy performed Monday on Dorothy Lasota, 83, of Oakwood Hills, showed she died from blunt force injuries in a crash, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.

The Wauconda Fire District and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 7:24 a.m. Saturday to the area of 30272 North Route 12 in unincorporated Wauconda for a vehicle crash with injuries.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Christopher Covelli said the incident involved a silver Chevrolet Cruze and a semi-truck.

A preliminary investigation shows the Chevrolet, driven by Lasota, was exiting the parking lot of Platinum Autobody facing westbound towards Route 12.

The semi-truck, driven by a 39-year-old McHenry man, was traveling northbound on Route 12.

The driver of the Chevrolet pulled out of the parking and attempted to make a U-turn in front of northbound traffic for unknown reasons.

The driver of the semi-truck swerved to the east into the embankment while trying to avoid hitting the Chevrolet.

The Chevrolet made the U-turn and crashed into the driver’s side tire of the fourth axle of the trailer, causing severe damage to the Chevrolet.

Wauconda Fire District Battalion Chief John Spratt said crews arrived to find the driver of the car, who was seriously injured, lying in the roadway.

The semi-truck was carrying 9,000 gallons of gasoline, Spratt said.

James Haight, who witnessed the crash, told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that he and other bystanders came to the woman’s aid by removing her from the car.

She was unconscious and not breathing and the bystanders began performing CPR until paramedics arrived, Haight said.

Spratt said paramedics transported the victim to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, which is the nearest Level 1 trauma center.

Covelli said Lasota was pronounced dead at the hospital.

All lanes of Route 12 were shut down due to the damaged fuel tanker and the amount of debris in the roadway.

The fuel tanker did not rupture and remained upright after the crash, Spratt said.

Spratt said the fuel had to be removed from the disabled tanker prior to the roadway being reopened.

Route 12 was closed from North Old Rand Road to Ellis Drive but was reopened early Saturday afternoon.

The Wauconda Police Department and Lakemoor Police Department assisted at the scene.