Police: Alcohol possible factor in crash
By BRIAN SLUPSKI bslupski@nwherald.com
PRAIRIE GROVE – Police said that alcohol might have played a role in a Saturday crash that left a Chicago woman dead and four others hospitalized with injuries.
Leandra Stewart, 56, of Chicago died Saturday after being taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Prairie Grove police said.
Stewart was headed east on Route 176 when the beige Chevrolet sedan she was driving crossed the center line and struck a blue Mazda about 4:51 p.m.
The crash occurred between Barreville and Valley View roads.
Police said that preliminary test results showed that Stewart’s blood alcohol level was 0.13, above the legal blood alcohol level of 0.08.
Police said that Stewart had been driving in the wrong lane and ran one car off the road into a ditch before striking the Mazda.
Police said that Stewart’s family indicated that she had been in the area for a job interview.
The Mazda was driven by Tony Hernandez, 26, of Wheeling. Also in the car was Hernandez’s son, 8-year-old Diego; his mother, 59-year-old Gloria; and his fiancée, 24-year-old Nancy Lopez, all residents of Wheeling.
Gloria Hernandez was taken to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington.
The three other passengers were taken to Centegra Hospital – McHenry. All were listed in stable condition Sunday.
