Father passes away days after fiery wrong-way crɑsh kiIIed his wife and four young children – rest in peace
The father from Illinois whose wife, four children, and a young family friend were kiIIed in a head-on highway collision has also passed away, making him the eighth life loss in the sad weekend collision.
Thomas Dobosch, 32, was initially taken to the hospital in serious condition after his Chevrolet van collided with an Acura TSX traveling the wrong way on Interstate 90 around 2 a.m. Sunday, Illinois State Police said.
Both cars “became engulfed in flames,” killing Jennifer Fernandez, 22, as well as Dobo’s wife, four children and a 13-year-old family friend who were accompanying them.
However, the father was also “subsequently pronounced as passed away”, police added in an update on Wednesday, indicating that everyone involved had passed away.
An online campaign that had raised more than $100,000 by Thursday also delivered the “heartbreaking” news.
Tom received his angel wings and is now with his wonderful wife Lauren and wonderful children, the campaign added, asking the public to “keep this family in your prayers”.
Fernandez was alone in the Acura at the time of the crɑsh, which is still under investigation, according to detectives. It is unclear why the Acura TSX was going in the opposite direction.
According to investigators, she was pronounced as passed away at the scene, along with all seven passengers in Doboshi’s van.
They are described in the fundraiser as his wife of 31 years, Lauren Dobosz; their children, Ella, 5, Nicholas, 7, Lucas, 8, and Emma, 13; and the teenager’s friend, Catriona Koziara, also 13 years old. Before the crɑsh in Riley Village, a family from suburban Chicago had just headed to Minnesota for the holidays.
According to Catriona’s special fundraiser, she was in the prime of her youth and was often seen with a bright face and upbeat attitude.