Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Authorities release identity of North Chicago man killed in rollover crash in Waukegan

Posted: 04 Jun 2022 08:18 AM PDT

A single-vehicle crash near Pershing Road and Water Street in Waukegan left one person dead early Friday morning, authorities said. | Photo Submitted to Lake and McHenry County Scanner

The coroner’s office has released the identity of a North Chicago man who died after he was ejected from a vehicle during a rollover crash in Waukegan Friday morning.

An autopsy performed Friday showed that David Rodriguez, 36, of North Chicago, died as a result of multiple blunt force injuries from a vehicle crash, according to Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton.

The Waukegan Fire Department and Waukegan Police Department responded around 2 a.m. Friday to the area of Pershing Road and Water Street in Waukegan for a vehicle crash.

Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Joe Florip said officers located a black 2017 Cadillac sedan on its roof.

Officers were investigating and located two passengers, both Waukegan residents in their 20s.

They were both able to get out of the vehicle on their own and were communicating with officers.

Florip said officers soon located Rodriguez — the driver of the vehicle — who was pronounced dead at the scene.

A single-vehicle crash near Pershing Road and Water Street in Waukegan left one person dead early Friday morning, authorities said. | Photo Submitted to Lake and McHenry County Scanner

The Waukegan Police Department Major Crash Unit (MCU) was called to investigate due to the seriousness of the crash.

Investigators believe the vehicle was traveling southbound on Pershing Road when it failed to navigate the curve in the roadway, Florip said.

The Cadillac then went off the road where it crashed into an embanked area.

Rodriguez, who was not wearing his seatbelt, was ejected in the collision.

Both passengers were wearing their seatbelts and were uninjured.

Investigators believe that speed and alcohol were the primary factors in the crash, Florip said.

Woman charged with stabbing other woman during fight in Waukegan

Posted: 03 Jun 2022 06:19 PM PDT

Janessa L. Colon, 24, of Waukegan.

A 24-year-old woman was arrested after prosecutors say she stabbed another woman with a screwdriver during a fight at a convenience store in Waukegan.

Janessa L. Colon, 24, of the 300 block of Lake Street in Waukegan, was charged with one count of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, a Class 3 felony.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kelse Banks said during a bond hearing that the incident occurred on Monday.

The victim told officers she was confronted by Colon at Uncle John’s Mart, 1102 West Greenwood Avenue in Waukegan.

The two, who do not know each other, started fighting and pulling each other’s hair, Banks said.

Colon’s boyfriend stopped another person from stopping the fight.

The victim and Colon were eventually separated and Colon entered the mini-mart.

Colon took a screwdriver from the store shelf and started to swing it at the victim, Banks said.

The victim fell to the ground and Colon allegedly stabbed the woman in her right forearm.

Bank said Colon stood up and then tried to “swing” at the victim’s sister, who was present during the incident.

The incident was captured on video surveillance. The victim’s injuries were not serious.

Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Colon held on a $50,000 bond.

She remains held in the Lake County Jail and would need to post $5,000 cash in order to be released.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for June 29.