CHICAGO — A devastating crash late Friday night on Chicago’s South Side has left two people dead and three others injured, according to police and emergency officials. The violent collision happened around 9:30 p.m. near West 75th Street and South Vincennes Avenue in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood, prompting a major emergency response and road closures that lasted for several hours.
Police said a 37-year-old woman driving a gray Buick sedan was traveling westbound on 75th Street when she attempted to make a left turn onto Vincennes Avenue. According to preliminary findings, she failed to yield during the turn, crashing into a black Dodge that was traveling eastbound through the intersection. The force of the impact was so strong that it pushed the Dodge into a parked Mercedes-Benz, which was unoccupied at the time.
Witnesses described the crash scene as chaotic, with debris scattered across the roadway and several victims ejected from the vehicles. The Chicago Fire Department quickly arrived and began providing medical aid to the injured. “It sounded like a bomb went off,” one witness said. “There were people running to help, and you could hear sirens from every direction.” Fire officials confirmed that five people were taken to hospitals following the collision.
Two passengers in the Dodge — 20-year-old Matthew Cuadra and 18-year-old April M. Valencia, both of Lansing — were transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Family members later confirmed that the two were a couple. “They were young and full of life,” a relative said. “They had their whole future ahead of them.” The driver of the Dodge, a 26-year-old man, and two other passengers — a 15-year-old girl and 25-year-old Jacky Valencia, April’s sister — were also hospitalized. Jacky remains in critical condition.
Police have cited the driver of the Buick for failure to yield while turning left, though investigators have not announced any additional charges. The CPD Major Accidents Investigation Unit continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash, including whether speed, distraction, or impairment played a role. Video footage from nearby cameras and witness statements are being reviewed to determine how the deadly collision unfolded.
As loved ones mourn the loss of Matthew Cuadra and April Valencia, community members have begun organizing support for the grieving families. “This tragedy has shaken us all,” a neighbor said. “Two young lives were cut short in an instant.” Police are urging drivers to stay alert, follow traffic rules, and use caution at busy intersections to prevent similar tragedies.