CHICAGO, IL — A devastating car accident near Guaranteed Rate Field on Sunday night claimed the lives of two women, leaving families shattered and the community in mourning. The fatal collision occurred around 9:15 p.m. in the 300 block of West 35th Street, just west of the iconic baseball stadium.
According to Chicago police, a red sedan driven by a 24-year-old woman with a 21-year-old female passenger was traveling eastbound when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The car veered over the median and into oncoming traffic, where it was struck by a black SUV occupied by two adult men. The force of the impact left both vehicles severely damaged, scattering debris across multiple lanes.
Emergency crews from the Chicago Fire Department rushed to the scene and provided immediate medical care to all involved. Both women in the sedan sustained severe bodily trauma and were transported to Stroger Hospital, where they were tragically pronounced dead a short time later. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the passenger as 21-year-old Natalia Andrea Acevedo Mendez. The driver’s identity has not yet been released pending family notification.
The two men in the SUV were taken to the University of Chicago Hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Police said that both remained conscious and cooperative with investigators at the scene. Witnesses reported seeing emergency responders block off the roadway for several hours as detectives conducted crash reconstruction and gathered evidence.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the driver of the sedan to lose control. Investigators are looking into possible factors such as speed, road conditions, or mechanical issues. No citations or charges have been issued at this time, and officials emphasized that the investigation remains active and ongoing.
The sudden loss of life has deeply saddened the South Side community, where residents say the intersection near 35th Street has seen multiple accidents in recent years. Loved ones and friends of the victims are now left mourning two young women whose futures were tragically cut short. Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage to contact Area One detectives as they work to piece together what happened.
