Local News
Bria Allen Killed, Two Children Injured After Vehicle Loses Control on Icy Road in Gurnee
GURNEE, Ill. — A tragic crash in the north suburbs claimed the life of a woman and left two young children injured Sunday night after a vehicle reportedly struck a patch of ice and lost control, authorities said.
According to the Gurnee Police Department, the collision occurred at approximately 8:54 p.m. Sunday on Grand Avenue over Interstate 94.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the driver of a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban was traveling westbound on Grand Avenue when the vehicle attempted to change lanes. Due to the icy road conditions, the Suburban is believed to have hit a patch of ice, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle then crossed the center median and entered the eastbound lanes of traffic, where it collided head-on with a 2007 Ford Focus traveling east.
The force of the impact pushed the Ford Focus off the roadway and into a nearby ditch.
The driver of the Ford Focus, identified as 29-year-old Bria Allen of Evanston, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Lake County Coroner’s Office later confirmed that Allen died from blunt force injuries sustained during the crash.
The occupants of the Suburban—a 29-year-old woman from Waukegan and her two children, a 5-year-old boy and an 8-month-old girl—were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. Their current conditions have not been released.
No additional injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
The Gurnee Police Department, with assistance from the Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT), continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. Authorities noted that winter weather and icy road conditions likely played a contributing role in the fatal collision.
Emergency crews in Bethesda, Montgomery County, responded to a serious trench collapse Tuesday at a work site in the 8100 block of Kentbury Drive, where two workers became trapped in a deep excavation.
According to initial reports, the incident involved a 10 to 12-foot-deep trench that collapsed while the workers were inside.
One victim was reported to be buried up to the waist, while the second victim was buried up to the head, creating an urgent and dangerous situation for responders.
Specialized rescue teams from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service were dispatched to the scene and initiated a technical trench rescue operation.
These types of incidents require careful stabilization of the surrounding soil and trench walls to prevent additional collapse while rescuers work to safely reach and extract the trapped individuals.
Emergency personnel secured the area and began implementing protective measures, including shoring the trench to stabilize the excavation site before attempting to free the victims.
The condition of the trapped workers has not yet been released.
Rescue operations were ongoing as crews worked methodically to remove soil and safely extricate the victims.
Officials are expected to provide further updates as the rescue effort continues and investigators determine what led to the collapse.