SHERIFF: Batavia High School Student Dies, Another In Critical Condition After Blackberry Township Crash

A 17-year-old Batavia girl is dead and an 18-year-old Batavia girl is in critical condition after a car crash on Monday night in Blackberry Township, according to authorities.

student Lynlee Gilbert, 17, died after she reportedly struck a tree with a vehicle near 0S710 Green Rd., according to a press release from the Kane County Sheriff's Department. Her passenger, Sarah Ginter, 18, was in critical condition at in Geneva as of 9:55 a.m. Tuesday morning. To read about the Facebook page that will contain updates on her recovery, click .

The investigation into the crash is ongoing and the following factors remain unknown at this time:

• What caused the vehicle to crash
• Whether drugs or alcohol were involved
• Whether the driver was texting at the time of the crash

Early reports indicate that a 1989 Dodge four-door vehicle Monday night was headed north on Green Road near Clover Hill Road. For an unknown reason, the vehicle left the roadway near a curve and hit a tree.

Emergency crews were dispatched to the crash at about 8:30 p.m. Monday. An Elburn Fire Department crew extricated both girls and transported them to Delnor Hospital. Gilbert was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The girls are confirmed to be students at Batavia High School. The High School staff was notified of the crash and has arranged their crisis team to be available to students Tuesday. To read more about the school's response, click .

The Sheriff's Department says the vehicle that the girls were riding in crossed over the southbound lane of traffic and then left the road on the west side of Green Road. To see some photos and a short film clip from the crash site after it was cleared, click .

Crews were dispatched to an area of Green Road south of Hughes Road, or County Highway 26, in unincorporated Blackberry Township. Upon arrival, emergency crews found a vehicle off the road against a tree at 0S710 Green Rd., according to the press release.

Early incident reports said that both girls were unresponsive and critical at the crash site. A helicopter was also on scene.

The Kane County Office of Emergency Management and the assisted Sheriff's Deputies. Detectives from the Kane County Sheriff's Office and the Accident Reconstruction Team are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash.

We will update this story when more information becomes available.