The victims included a 4-year-old girl and two adults from Des Moines, Iowa, authorities said.
MILLBROOK, IL — Three people, including a 4-year-old girl, were killed and two others were injured in a head-on collision involving four vehicles Friday night in rural Kendall County, according to Illinois State Police and county coroners.
The crash happened at about 9:15 p.m. July 31 on Illinois Route 71 near Walker Road, south of Millbrook. State police said their preliminary investigation found that a southbound driver attempted to pass several vehicles before colliding head-on with an oncoming vehicle. Two additional vehicles then became involved.
Authorities identified two of those killed as Amy Lee Witter, 38, and James Witter, 65. The third victim was a 4-year-old girl whose name was not released. All three were from Des Moines, Iowa. Officials did not release information about their relationships.
Amy Witter was pronounced dead at the scene by Kendall County coroner’s deputies. James Witter was taken to Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora, where he was later pronounced dead. The girl was taken to Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital in Sandwich and later died, according to a joint statement from coroners in Kendall, DeKalb and Kane counties.
Five people were transported to area hospitals after the collision, state police said. Three of them died, while the conditions and identities of the two surviving patients had not been released as of Sunday.
Police did not identify the driver who investigators said attempted to pass the other vehicles. Authorities also had not announced whether citations or criminal charges were being considered. The direction of travel, vehicle assignments and other details involving each person remained under investigation.
Illinois Route 71 was closed near Walker Road while troopers, emergency crews and investigators worked at the scene. The roadway reopened shortly after 5 a.m. Saturday, nearly eight hours after the crash.
Forensic autopsies were scheduled for Sunday. Illinois State Police and the coroner’s offices in Kendall, DeKalb and Kane counties are continuing to investigate the collision and the three deaths.
Author note: Last updated August 2, 2026.