Earlville Teen Dies After Car Accident

May 27, 2010 - A young woman from Earlville, who was due to give the valedictory address at her upcoming high school graduation, has died from injuries she sustained in a car accident in March. According to reports at the News Tribune, the 18-year-old female succumbed to her injuries more than two months after her car was broadsided by another vehicle.

On March 12, 2009, the 18-year-old victim was driving through the intersection of East 10^th and North 46^th Roads when she was hit by an elderly driver who failed to yield at a stop sign. She suffered extensive personal injuries, including several broken bones, a shattered jaw and brain damage.

Since the car accident in March, she has spent time in numerous hospitals as doctors tried desperately to rehabilitate her. Immediately after the accident, the victim was treated at Mendota Community Hospital before being airlifted to Rockford Memorial Hospital. Since then, she has remained in intensive care at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

The 18-year-old victim died on Monday morning. She had been accepted to Western Illinois University, where she had expected to start classes this fall. Funeral services were held on Tuesday at Earlville High School, where she attended school.