Waukegan Mother Maria Perez, 35, Killed in I-94 Crash After Friend Allegedly Drove Drunk and Texted
Waukegan mother Maria Conchita Perez, 35, was killed when the car she was riding in struck a semi-truck on I-94 near Gurnee. The driver, Priscilla Martinez, 29, was charged with aggravated DUI causing death and other felonies after allegedly drinking and using her phone while driving.
A Waukegan family loses a mother to an I-94 crash
Maria Conchita Perez, 35, of Waukegan, died after the Mazda SUV she was riding in struck a semi-truck on Interstate 94 near Gurnee early Saturday morning. The driver, Priscilla M. Martinez, 29, of Gurnee, has been charged with aggravated DUI causing death and other felonies.
Perez was a passenger in the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville after suffering life-threatening injuries, according to Illinois State Police.
The crash and the charges
The crash occurred at approximately 5:07 a.m. Saturday, May 23 in the westbound lanes of Interstate 94 at the 11.75-mile marker, between Route 120 and O’Plaine Road near Gurnee.
The Gurnee Fire Department, Libertyville Fire Department, and Illinois State Police responded to the scene. A 911 caller reported a car sideways in lanes 1 and 2 with a victim who had a possible broken neck, according to police radio traffic.
Gurnee Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Steffens said Perez was unconscious at the scene and suffered life-threatening injuries. Martinez was transported to the same hospital for evaluation with injuries initially believed to be non-life-threatening.
The semi-truck driver was uninjured and declined medical transport at the scene.
Lanes 1, 2, and 3 on I-94 remained shut down for the investigation until approximately 10:45 a.m., Illinois State Police said.
Martinez told troopers she had consumed three drinks at a bar in Chicago before getting behind the wheel to drive back to Lake County, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris.
Martinez had referenced looking at her phone when the crash occurred and said she was traveling 70-80 mph when she hit the truck, Katris said.
Martinez’s breath alcohol concentration registered at 0.146, well above the legal limit of 0.08, Katris said.
Martinez faces the following charges, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office:
- Aggravated DUI involving death (Class 2 Felony)
- DUI with BAC of 0.146 (Class A Misdemeanor)
- Aggravated use of a communications device causing death (Class 4 Felony)
- Improper traffic lane usage
- Failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash
Martinez was arrested by Illinois State Police District 2 at 8:40 a.m. Saturday after being released from the hospital. She appeared in First Appearance Court on Sunday morning.
Lake County Judge Patricia Cornell ordered Martinez held in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, according to court records.
A mother, a daughter, a friend
Perez leaves behind a 17-year-old son, her friends and family said.
Frankie Rosa, a Waukegan resident, set up a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral expenses for Perez’s family. The campaign has raised over $7,500 toward a $9,000 goal from 100 donors as of Monday.
Maria Perez was a “beautiful mother, a loving daughter, an amazing friend, and someone who brought light and laughter everywhere she went,” Rosa said.
“She had a kind heart, an outgoing spirit, and a way of making everyone around her feel loved and welcomed. Her smile, energy, and caring soul touched so many lives,” Rosa said.
Perez also served as a pop-up coordinator for Community Outreach Waukegan, the group’s founder Miguel A. Rivera Sr. said.
The investigation continues
The Lake County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Perez on Tuesday, May 26. Preliminary results indicated she died from blunt force injuries as a result of the crash, according to the coroner’s office.
The crash remains under investigation by Illinois State Police.
Martinez remains held at the Lake County Jail awaiting further court proceedings.
Sources:
- Arlington Cardinal: https://www.arlingtoncardinal.com/2026/05/identity-released-of-passenger-killed-in-mazda-suv-crash-with-truck-on-i-94-driver-charged-with-aggravated-dui/
- Lake McHenry Scanner: https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2026/05/25/police-release-identity-of-waukegan-woman-left-dead-after-alleged-intoxicated-friend-causes-crash-on-i-94-near-gurnee/
- CBS Chicago: https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/woman-charged-with-dui-deadly-i-94-crash-gurnee/