A Fourth of July storm turned deadly at a Kendall County RV park, where a falling tree crushed a camper trailer and killed a New Lenox woman inside, according to officials.
The Kendall County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Dana Jenner, 47, of New Lenox. She was found inside the camper and pronounced dead at the scene in the 8500-block of Millbrook Road in Fox Township. Jenner's two dogs were also killed in the incident, according to the coroner.
Officials said Jenner suffered multiple injuries consistent with the tree strike. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday, according to ABC7 Chicago.
What officials say
Kendall County Sheriff's deputies responded to reports that a large tree had fallen on a camper during the storms and arrived to find a trailer with a tree on top. NBC Chicago reported that the call came in at about 3:12 p.m. on July 4 at Fox Creek RV Resort in Fox Township. Authorities said Jenner was the only person inside the camper when the tree came down.
Detectives from the sheriff's office and the coroner's office are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. No additional details have been released.
Storms across the region
The Kendall County tragedy was part of a line of intense storms that swept the Midwest over the holiday weekend, bringing down trees and contributing to other deadly events, including a boat that capsized on Geneva Lake and killed three children, according to CBS News.
The National Weather Service urges campers to head for a sturdy building or hard-topped vehicle when severe thunderstorms threaten and to avoid parking or camping under large trees, guidance that hits especially hard in the wake of Jenner's death.
According to Kendall County, the Coroner's Office is handling the autopsy and next-of-kin notifications. Contact information for the Forensic Science Center is listed on the county website at the Kendall County Coroner's Office.
