CHICAGO, Ill. — A devastating crash in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood claimed the lives of two young women Sunday night after their vehicle crossed a median and collided with another car near Guaranteed Rate Field. The Chicago Police Department identified the victims as 24-year-old Yuliana Yamileth Rolon and 21-year-old Natalia Andrea Acevedo Mendez, both of whom were pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital.
Authorities said the crash happened around 9:15 p.m. in the 300 block of West 35th Street, when a red sedan driven by Rolon was traveling eastbound and lost control, crossing the center median. The sedan was struck moments later by a westbound black SUV, causing a violent impact that left the vehicles mangled and debris scattered across the roadway.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene and provided life-saving efforts to both Rolon and Mendez before transporting them to the hospital. Sadly, both women succumbed to their injuries. The driver and passenger in the SUV were also hospitalized but are expected to recover, according to police.
Traffic in the area was temporarily halted as officers, firefighters, and paramedics worked to assist the victims and clear the scene. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the identities of Rolon and Mendez on Monday, extending condolences to their grieving families. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the Bridgeport community, where neighbors and friends are mourning the loss of two young lives taken far too soon.
Investigators are continuing to examine what caused Rolon’s vehicle to cross the median. Police are reviewing possible factors such as speed, road conditions, or mechanical issues and are asking anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact the Chicago Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Unit.
City officials emphasized the importance of roadway safety in the wake of the crash, reminding drivers to stay alert and cautious, especially in busy urban areas. As the investigation continues, Chicago joins in grief with the families of Yuliana Rolon and Natalia Acevedo Mendez, remembering them as vibrant young women whose lives ended tragically on a quiet Sunday night.
