Alex Gonzalez,Miguel Martinez Santiago Obituary, Death; – The McHenry County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the identities of the two teenagers who lost their lives in a tragic incident near Woodstock on Sunday. Eighteen-year-old Alex Gonzalez and seventeen-year-old Miguel Martinez Santiago, both residents of Harvard, were fatally injured in a two-vehicle accident on Davis Road that occurred in the afternoon.
According to the coroner’s office, the two were discovered inside a 2021 Dodge Challenger Hellcat, which had collided head-on with a 2022 Volvo XC 90 at the crest of a hill, resulting in a fire around noon on Sunday. Both individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, located on Davis Road west of Dean Street in unincorporated Woodstock.
The driver of the Volvo, a 47-year-old woman identified as Amy Roeder from Woodstock, also perished in the crash. This information was released earlier in the week by the coroner’s office.
Kevin Lyons, a spokesperson for School District 200, remarked to ABC 7 that Roeder was a significant contributor to the Westwood school community, noting her active involvement as both an employee and a parent. Reports indicate that Roeder’s daughter, a seventh grader at a different school within the district, sustained serious injuries, although further updates on her condition are not currently available.
Friends of the deceased teenagers have been gathering at a roadside memorial at the site of the accident, sharing memories of the pair who worked together at a barbershop in Harvard. One friend described one of the young men as having a kind heart, while the other was noted for his enthusiasm for the Milwaukee Bucks. Juan Mercado, a former classmate from Harvard High School, mentioned that one of the teens inspired him to pursue a career in hairstyling.
Authorities are investigating the possibility that speed and reckless driving may have contributed to the collision. While alcoholic beverage containers were discovered at the scene, it remains unclear whether they played a role in the incident.
