On the crisp morning of Monday, Oct. 20, a devastating two-vehicle collision on westbound Interstate 88 near milepost 71 in Lee County claimed the life of 27-year-old Araceli Zepeda of Rochelle.
According to a joint statement from the Illinois State Police and the Winnebago County Coroner’s Office, the crash occurred at approximately 9:22 a.m., when a westbound Ford Transit Connect was struck from behind by a high-speed Mazda CX-7. The force sent the Mazda off the roadway, where it overturned multiple times, ejecting three of its occupants — including Zepeda.
First-responders arrived to find Zepeda unresponsive. She was air-lifted by OSF Life Flight to a Rockford hospital where, despite hours of efforts, she was pronounced dead at exactly 7:59 p.m. that evening. The driver of the Mazda — identified as a 21-year-old woman from Chicago — and another passenger, an 18-year-old from Rochelle, were also hospitalized; the driver of the Ford, a 41-year-old man from East Dundee, sustained injuries and was taken for treatment.
As of now, no formal charges have been filed. An autopsy has been completed and the cause of death is pending further toxicology and investigative review, as officials continue to piece together the full sequence of events.
The community of Rochelle is reeling. Friends and family remember Araceli as a warm, caring young woman who always had time for others and carried a spirit of kindness wherever she went. Her unexpected passing has left a void in the lives of many who knew her light and laughter.
On a weekday morning, an ordinary drive turned tragic in mere seconds. Investigators from both the state police and the coroner’s office continue to examine vehicle speeds, road conditions, and the moments leading up to impact, hoping to give the Zepeda family and those affected some sense of closure.
Araceli’s life may have been cut short, but the impact she had — her compassion, her friendships, her daily presence in the Rochelle community — lives on. Amid the silence of a road now cleared, loved ones are left with memories of her smile, her generosity, and the question of what-if. Her name will not be forgotten.
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