A suburban father and his teen daughter were killed and three others were injured in a tragic crash in Lake County over the weekend, officials said.
Police said the two-vehicle crash happened around 4 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of Route 132 and Route 45 near Lindenhurst.
A preliminary investigation revealed a Nissan was traveling northbound with two people inside when it hit a Kia carrying three people as the Kia turned onto Route 132. The Kia then slammed into a telephone pole, officials said.
Christopher Winiewicz, 50, and his 15-year-old daughter Haylie, both of whom were in the Kia, were killed in the crash, according to the Lake County coroner’s office.
Three others were transported to area hospitals for treatment, including Haylie Winiewicz’s 16-year-old sister Ashley.
Haylie Winiewicz was a member of the Grayslake North High School cheerleading team and was also on a competitive dance hip-hop team.
“I feel horrible,” said Jackie Lindom, one of Hailey’s cheerleading coaches. “I don’t even know really how to pick up the pieces.”
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Lindom described Winiewicz as “a hardworking athlete, always putting in the extra hour.”
“Haylie was a fun-loving, energetic, hilarious, and sweet kid that has been taken from us far too early,” a message on the cheerleading team’s website said. “We will miss her and think of her everyday moving forward.”
The post also said 16-year-old Ashley Winiewicz is doing well following her injuries in the crash and is with her family.
“Please give an extra hug to your loved ones today,” the post read. “You really never know when it will be your last.”
The Twister Elite Cheer & Dance Facebook page said Haylie was “one of our most determined and dedicated athletes we’ve ever had.”
“She was a World Class athlete,” the post read. “She was truly an athlete everyone could look up to as an inspiration. Her legacy will live on, we will carry it forward and bring the dream to many more athletes with Haylie's spirit leading the charge.”
Students at Grayslake North High School are expected to wear purple Monday in Hailey’s honor, according to posts on social media.
A GoFundMe page was set up to help the Winiewicz family and has raised nearly $20,000 in 17 hours.
