2 Killed In Head-On Crash On Manhattan Road: Will County Sheriff

ELWOOD, IL — Two people were killed in a head-on crash on Manhattan Road Thursday evening, the Will County Sheriff's Office said Friday.

The crash happened in the 17400 block of Manhattan Road just before 5 p.m., authorities said.

Manhattan Fire Protection District crews arrived within approximately six minutes and found a two-vehicle crash with heavy damage to both vehicles, fire officials said. One car had a sole occupant; the second car had three occupants. Three of four people involved in the crash required extrication, Manhattan Fire Protection District Chief Malone said.

Initially, two were reported as in critical condition, and four were reported injured. All four were transported from the scene.

A male driver, identified by the Will County Coroner as Joshua Villalobos, 35, of Elwood, was taken to Silver Cross Hospital and later pronounced dead.

A 64-year-old passenger of a second vehicle, identified as Diane Hopkins, of Oak Harbor, Ohio, was also transported to Silver Cross and pronounced dead. The 69-year-old male driver of that vehicle was transported to Silver Cross in critical condition.

Initial investigation indicates Villalobos was driving westbound on Manhattan Road, just west of Cherry Hill Road, when his vehicle entered oncoming traffic in the eastbound lane.

The investigation is ongoing, said Will County Sheriff's Deputy Chief Dan Jungles. It does not appear that drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.

Deputies are in the process of accident reconstruction and further testing of evidence needs to be completed before any formal determination can be made, Jungles said.