Chicago woman admits guilt in fatal crash that killed 2

A Chicago woman recently admitted guilt in a fatal crash near the Illinois state line that killed her two passengers, including her younger sister.

Catherine Perez, 21, signed a plea agreement filed on July 27.

If a Lake County judge accepts, the charges would be dropped down to reckless homicide, a level 5 felony. The charge carries a penalty of 1 to 6 years with a 3-year advisory sentence.

Both sides would argue the length at her Sept. 1 sentencing hearing, according to court documents.

Perez was charged in December 2019 with the Oct. 7, 2019, crash that killed Emely Perez, 17, her little sister, according to police, and friend Mia Rodriguez, 18.

Police said Catherine Perez appeared to be “chasing or drag racing” another vehicle when they crossed the state line into Hammond from Chicago.

She ran several red lights before crashing into a gray Buick LaSabre between 73 mph and 77 mph into the front end of a semitractor-trailer around 10 p.m. near Exit 0 on Indianapolis Boulevard and 108th Street, charging documents allege.

The other vehicle was not there by the time police arrived. A witness who ran to the car afterward said Catherine Perez told him they were “chasing a car that had hit them” and asked him to “wake Emely and Mia up.”

Both Emely Perez and Rodriguez died of blunt force trauma, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office.

Catherine Perez and the truck driver were transported to a hospital. The driver had no alcohol in his system, according to police who tested him on-scene. A third car was damaged by debris.

Police later found a picture in Emely Perez’s cellphone showing the Illinois license plate of a red Ford truck and a 12-second video showing Catherine Perez ran the red light before the crash.

Neither Lake County 911 nor the Chicago Office of Emergency Management Center had records of a call from Catherine Perez reporting a hit-and-run, road rage or reckless driving, documents state.

Police later concluded Catherine Perez did not break before the crash.

Both Emely Perez and Rodriguez went to George Washington High School in Chicago. They were honored in October 2019 with a balloon release.