Mother Remembered as ‘Incredible Person’ as Funeral Services Are Held Following Fatal I-94 Crash

Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday evening for a beloved Waukegan mother who was killed in a crash on Interstate 94 near Gurnee. Family members described her as a devoted parent whose kindness and compassion left a lasting impact on everyone she met.

According to authorities, the crash occurred around 5:07 a.m. Saturday on Interstate 94 between Route 120 and O’Plaine Road. Emergency crews from the Gurnee Fire Department, Libertyville Fire Department, and Illinois State Police responded to reports of a serious collision involving injuries.

Initial reports indicated that a vehicle had come to rest sideways across two lanes of traffic with an occupant trapped inside. Emergency dispatch communications suggested the victim had sustained critical injuries as first responders rushed to the scene.

Authorities said the crash involved a Mazda SUV and a semi-tractor-trailer. The Mazda sustained extensive damage, while the semi-truck came to rest on the right shoulder of the interstate.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris identified the driver of the Mazda as 29-year-old Priscilla M. Martinez of Gurnee. According to court records, Martinez called 911 following the crash and reported that she had struck a truck and that her passenger may have suffered a serious neck injury.

Illinois State Police and family members later identified the passenger as 35-year-old Maria Conchita Perez of Waukegan.

The collision occurred in the westbound lanes of Interstate 94 near the 11.75-mile marker. Gurnee Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Steffens said first responders located Martinez and Perez inside the Mazda, along with the driver of the semi-truck. None of the occupants required extrication.

Perez suffered critical injuries and was found unconscious at the scene. She was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where she was later pronounced dead.

Martinez was transported to the same hospital for evaluation after reporting minor injuries. The driver of the semi-truck was not injured and declined medical treatment.

Investigators closed multiple westbound lanes of Interstate 94 for several hours while the crash scene was processed. Traffic restrictions remained in place until approximately 10:45 a.m.

According to prosecutors, Martinez told troopers she had consumed alcohol while in Chicago before traveling back to Lake County. Authorities allege she was driving between 70 and 80 mph and may have been distracted by her cellphone when her vehicle struck the rear of the semi-truck. A breath test reportedly showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.146, nearly twice Illinois’ legal limit.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office later took custody of Perez and conducted an autopsy.

Friends, family members, and colleagues remembered Perez as a compassionate and energetic woman whose presence positively impacted countless lives. A devoted mother, she leaves behind a 17-year-old son whom loved ones described as the center of her world.

Perez worked as the front desk manager at Tricoci Salon & Spa in Vernon Hills and also served as a pop-up coordinator for Community Outreach Waukegan. A fundraising campaign established to assist with funeral expenses has raised more than $10,500 from over 160 donors.

Martinez has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence causing death, driving under the influence of alcohol, aggravated use of a communication device resulting in death, improper lane usage, and failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

Following her release from the hospital, Martinez was arrested by Illinois State Police special agents and transported to the Lake County Jail.

During a detention hearing, prosecutors argued that speeding, alcohol consumption, and cellphone distraction contributed to the fatal crash. Defense attorney Jed Stone requested Martinez’s release pending trial, citing her lack of prior DUI convictions, family support, and willingness to seek counseling.

Lake County Judge James Newman described the incident as a tragic situation and noted that multiple decisions made that night ultimately led to the loss of life. The judge denied the state’s request to detain Martinez but ordered strict pretrial conditions, including Level 4 supervision, abstinence from alcohol and drugs, electronic alcohol monitoring, a curfew, and a prohibition on driving.

Funeral services for Perez are scheduled for Thursday evening, with visitation taking place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Memorial Chapel of Waukegan. Martinez is scheduled to return to court on June 25 for a preliminary hearing.