Alex Gonzalez and Miguel Martinez Santiago die in fatal Woodstock crash
Fatal Woodstock crash claims the lives of Alex Gonzalez and Miguel Martinez Santiago – Obituary
The McHenry County Coroner’s Office has confirmed that two teenagers tragically lost their lives in a head-on collision near Woodstock on Sunday afternoon. Eighteen-year-old Alex Gonzalez and 17-year-old Miguel Martinez Santiago, both residents of Harvard, were involved in the incident on Davis Road.
Gonzalez and Santiago were found deceased in a 2021 Dodge Challenger Hellcat that collided head-on with a 2022 Volvo XC90 at a hill crest, igniting a fire around noon. They were pronounced dead at the scene, which is located west of Dean Street.
Also among the deceased was 47-year-old Amy Roeder, the driver of the Volvo. She was previously identified as a valued member of the Westwood school community, where she served as an employee and was actively involved as a parent. Roeder’s daughter, a seventh grader attending another school in the district, sustained serious injuries during the crash.
Friends of Gonzalez and Santiago have gathered at a roadside memorial to honor the young men, who worked together at a local barbershop. One friend described Gonzalez as kind-hearted, while Santiago was noted for his passion for the Milwaukee Bucks. Juan Mercado, a fellow student from Harvard High School, remarked that Santiago inspired him to pursue hairstyling.
Authorities are currently investigating the crash, with initial reports suggesting that speed and reckless driving may have contributed. Alcohol containers were discovered at the scene, but it remains unclear if they played a role in the collision.