Lena woman cited after crashing UTV with five children onboard

NORA, Ill. (WIFR) - 43-year-old Jessica Lawson of Lena faces two citations after she allegedly crashed her UTV with five juveniles on board leaving one of them with injuries.

The incident occurred around 11:50 p.m. on Friday, June 17 when deputies were dispatched to the area of N. Williams Road 1/4 mile south of W. Clinton Street in rural Nora for a traffic accident with injuries. On the scene, deputies learned that Lawson was operating a blue 2016 Polaris Ranger southbound on N. Williams Road.

Five juvenile passengers also from Lena ranging from ages 10 to 14 were riding in the UTV at the time. Lawson attempted to negotiate a curve in the roadway but lost control of the UTV on loose gravel, overcorrected and overturned the UTV on the roadway.

One juvenile female was transported to Freeport Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries. The Jo Daviess Sheriff’s Office issued Lawson citations of with Failure to Reduce Speed/Accident and Operating a Non-Highway Vehicle (UTV) on the road.

The incident remains under investigation by the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Office.