Boy dies from injuries in crash that killed mom, brothers

JOLIET, Ill. – A 6-year-old boy has become the latest member of a northern Illinois family to die as a result of a traffic crash that killed his pregnant mother and two brothers.

Will County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer says Owen Schmidt was pronounced dead at 2:39 a.m. Thursday. He and his brother were put into medical induced comas after Tuesday’s accident in the community of Beecher, about 40 miles (65 kilometres) south of Chicago. On Wednesday, that brother, 4-year-old Weston Schmidt, died.

The boys’ mother, Lindsey Schmidt, and their younger brother, Caleb, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Hoffmeyer says the driver of the pickup truck that slammed into the Schmidt’s vehicle was issued a traffic citation but that investigators are trying to determine if criminal charges should be filed.