Indiana Woman Identified as Victim in Fatal Wilmington-Peotone Road Crash
The Will County Coroner’s Office has officially identified the woman killed in Tuesday’s fatal crash on Wilmington-Peotone Road as 70-year-old Judith L. Stirm of Delphi, Indiana.
In a statement, Coroner Laurie H. Summers reported that Stirm was pronounced deceased at 12:42 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the scene of the crash, located just west of South Elevator Road.
The initial crash occurred around 10:45 a.m. when the passenger vehicle Stirm was driving collided head-on with a semi-truck. According to the Manhattan Fire Protection District, the car sustained heavy damage, and crews had to perform an extrication to free her from the vehicle.
The situation on the rural road escalated less than two hours later. At approximately 12:35 p.m., a second major accident occurred nearby, involving a semi-truck hauling a propane tanker that had crashed and was leaking. Fire crews successfully stopped the leak and rescued that driver, who was transported for medical care.
The Will County Sheriff’s Police are leading the investigation into the crash that resulted in Ms. Stirm’s death. The Coroner’s Office confirmed that an autopsy was performed on Wednesday, July 30. A final cause and manner of death will be determined following the completion of autopsy, police, and toxicology reports.
The two severe accidents prompted a massive response from multiple fire districts and law enforcement agencies, forcing the complete closure of Wilmington-Peotone Road for several hours on Tuesday for investigation and cleanup operations.
Latest News Stories
Lawmakers call for changes to cashless bail as Illinois faces federal funding loss
Illinois quick hits: Unemployment down; Rivian supplier gets tax incentives
Pritzker’s office ‘extremely troubled’ by photo with suspect ‘peacekeeper’
Pritzker touts quantum future, state senator urges caution for taxpayers
WATCH: Pritzker on Kimmel suspension; SNAP error rate alarms; hemp regulations loom
Temporary Rockford Courthouse fence sparks debate over security and costs
Illinois quick hits: Report: Suspect pictured with Pritzker; more immigration arrests
Illinois quick hits: Suspect in custody after state senator’s home struck with gunfire
WATCH: Governor candidate: Low-cost districts shine while most IL schools spend, fail
WATCH: Pritzker threatens executive action regulating hemp if legislature won’t act
WATCH: Illinois congresswoman OK withholding federal tax funds to change state policy
Chicago mayor: ‘We do not have a spending problem’ as spending, deficit grows