A tragic traffic incident on the Kennedy Expressway has resulted in the death of a local fitness coach and serious charges for a Chicago woman. Jakyla Hester, 21, stands accused of aggravated driving under the influence causing death and several other charges following a wrong-way collision early Wednesday morning. The crash claimed the life of Quinn Fraboni, a 27-year-old from Vernon Hills, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Illinois State Police report that around 4:30 a.m., Hester was driving a Volkswagen sedan southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 90 when she struck the Honda sedan Fraboni was operating near Cumberland Avenue, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. Following a collision, Hester was taken to an area hospital for her injuries and subsequently transported to Cook County Jail in Maywood pending a detention hearing.
In addition to the aggravated DUI charge, Hester faces counts of reckless homicide and aggravated DUI without a valid driver’s license, as per the Illinois State Police. Further charges include driving without insurance, disobeying a traffic control device, driving the wrong way on a divided highway, and driving under the influence of alcohol. A detention hearing was scheduled for Friday, as detailed by CBS News Chicago.
The incident has left a palpable impact on the community. Fraboni was not only a resident of Vernon Hills but also a beloved coach at Flexx Personal Training. Flexx owner Connor Flahive described Fraboni's death as "surreal". "The way that he was able to connect with people and be a part of their lives and no matter what they were going through, what he was going through," Flahive told CBS News Chicago. "It was like, you walk through that door, and it was high-five [with a] smile on his face." Flexx Personal Training has paused its sessions as those close to Fraboni and the network of clients mourn his untimely passing.
