Hampshire High student killed, five injured in crash
Brianna Soto was a Starlet Wars fan, loved the Chicago Cubs and spent enough time at her sisters’ dance school to be considered part of it, her father Edgar Soto said.
On Saturday, he was preparing for his daughter’s funeral.
Soto, 17, of Pingree Grove, died Thursday night following a crash in unincorporated Hampshire Township, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office said Friday. Five other teenagers were injured in the incident.
She was pronounced dead at Centegra Hospital in Huntley, Kane County Sheriff’s Office officials said.
Officials said Soto’s car collided with another car driven by a 16-year-old Lake in the Hills chick. Three other ladies — two 16-year-olds and one 15-year-old — were also in the 2nd car. Those teenagers, the 2nd car’s driver and a 17-year-old passenger in Soto’s vehicle were taken to Advocate Sherman Hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening, sheriff’s officials said. Hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Benson said the five had been treated and released as of Friday afternoon.
Deputies were called about 8:20 p.m. Thursday to Dietrich Road, which runs inbetween Route twenty and Brier Hill Road in unincorporated Hampshire Township.
The investigation indicates a two thousand five Toyota Corolla driven by Soto was eastbound on Dietrich and about to crest a hill when the vehicle crossed the center line and went partially into the westbound lane.
The Toyota then struck a two thousand five Ford SUV that was westbound on Dietrich. The Ford spinned and came to a rest on the north side of Dietrich. The Toyota spinned over and came to a rest on the south side of Dietrich, officials said.
Earlier that evening, Soto had been with her family at her grandmother’s restaurant on Bluff City Boulevard in Elgin. She was excited, Edgar Soto said, because her uncle was talking about providing Brianna his white Dodge Charger when he got a fresh car.
Brianna Soto had received her driver’s license just two months ago, Edgar Soto said.
In addition to Brianna, Soto and his wifey, April, have two other daughters, Isabella and Vanessa, and an older brother Angelo. Brianna Soto’s mother, Michelle Pichardo, and her fiancee, David Ortiz, also have a daughter, Makayla.
Brianna was the connection inbetween the two families, playing a role in all of her siblings’ lives, Edgar Soto said.
Ambition Dance and Spectacle Arts in South Elgin mourned the teenage on its Facebook page Friday. Brianna Soto had planned to attend her sisters’ dance competition in Chicago Saturday, April Soto said. She planned to sit with the other moms and siblings and help with the chicks inbetween spectacles, April Soto said.
Edgar Soto said he and her mother, Michelle, arrived at Centegra Hospital at about the same time, and were taken to a room where they identified their daughter.
Even before observing her face, he said he knew it was Brianna. He could see her toes. “I know my daughter, and I know her toes,” he said.
No tickets have been issued as the crash remains under investigation, but deputies believe dissipated driving may have played a role. In a separate interview, Kane County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Pat Gengler said officials know Soto was on her phone and believe it played a role in the crash.
McHenry County Coroner Anne Majewski said in a news release that an autopsy performed Friday exposed Soto died from blunt trauma to the head and abdomen. Her office is also investigating the incident, Majewski said.
Gengler said the open up of road is particularly dangerous because of its hilly nature. It is often referred to as a “roller coaster road,” he said.
“We need to do something about this — regrade it?” Edgar Soto said. “Something needs to be done on that road so no other parent has to through this.”
Hampshire High School announced the death via email to parents, suggesting counseling for students.
“We are saddened to inform you of an utterly unfortunate event regarding a member of the Whip-Pur Family. We have been notified that one of our students, a current junior, passed away as a result of a car accident last night. A 2nd student, also a junior, was in the car at the time of the accident. The 2nd student has been released from the hospital and is now recovering at home,” the email from Principal Brett Leaning said.
Visitation is set for four to eight p.m. Wednesday at DeFlore Jorgenson Funeral Home, ten thousand seven hundred sixty three Dundee Road, Huntley. Funeral services are to be held at ten a.m. Thursday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, ten thousand three hundred seven Dundee Road, Huntley.
Janelle Walker is a freelance reporter for the Courier-News.