Britney Perez, 20, a Northwestern University sophomore, died from injuries suffered early Sunday morning in a head-on collision with another car near Lake Bluff.
A police investigation later that morning determined Perez was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Route 41 when the crash occurred. The driver of the other car, a 45-year old man, suffered serious injuries.
A toxicology investigation is ongoing. An autopsy conducted Monday indicated the cause of death as blunt force injuries. The Lake County Coroner’s Office said cases normally take six to eight weeks to close.
First responders from three suburban departments responded at 4:52 a.m. to reports of a front-end collision with injuries involving two cars. Officers from Lake Bluff police and Lake Bluff and Lake Forest fire departments responded to the accident on U.S. Route 41 south of Illinois Route 176, approximately 22 miles from Evanston.
Perez died at the scene in her car, a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. First responders extricated the second driver from a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee and took him by ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with serious injuries. Deputy Chief Erik Gehrke of the Lake Bluff Police Department said they are not releasing any information about the name or condition of the second driver.
Police investigation ongoing
Officers searched the vehicles and crash site and determined there were no other occupants in either car. Due to the seriousness of the accident, the Lake Bluff Police Department contacted the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) for help. Gehrke said the investigation is continuing and they have yet to determine where or when Perez entered Route 41. The one call police received was from an uninvolved observer as the accident occurred.
While the investigation was underway, police closed northbound Route 41 where it intersects with Illinois Route 60. Police reopened Route 41 at approximately 9:45 a.m.
Both Lake Bluff and Lake Forest offered social services to their first responders who were at the accident site. Gehrke would not comment further.
A woman with passion for sociology, business and education
Friends of the Perez family have organized a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses and to support Britney’s dad Juan, mom Sonia, sister Wendy and brother Johnny. The effort has already raised nearly $29,000 as of Friday night, Feb. 28.
“Britney Perez was a bright, intelligent, caring, and beautiful person,” the GoFundMe, organized by Erica Salazar, said. “She was also extremely hard-working and a dedicated student who loved being involved around her campus. It is easy to say that her vibrant and outgoing spirit touched the lives of everyone she interacted with.”
The photo at left is part of National School Choice Awareness Foundation. Perez, originally from Texas, was one of their 2023 Student Ambassadors.
The description with the photo reads, “Britney Perez is an ambitious and driven rising leader who is set to embark on an exciting academic journey at Northwestern University. With a strong passion for sociology, business, and education, Britney wants to make a meaningful impact in the lives of underprivileged students by establishing an organization dedicated to promoting positive youth development and educational empowerment.”
Northwestern’s Sheil Catholic Center, 2110 Sheridan Rd., held an evening of remembrance “with scripture, song and sharing” at 8 p.m. Thursday to celebrate Perez’s life.
NU sophomore dies in head-on collision near Lake Bluff is from Evanston RoundTable, Evanston's most trusted source for unbiased, in-depth journalism.