***UPDATE*** 5/3/21 3:45 P.M.
The names of the deceased have been identified.
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said the 14-year-old’s name was Bolodjawn Diego Bonkengo, and the 1-year-old’s was Owens Bomolo.
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PEORIA, Ill. — An infant and a teenager were both killed Sunday afternoon in a two-car crash.
Peoria County Sheriff’s Deputies and Peoria Police responded just after 2:00 to the intersection of Charter Oak Rd. and Charter Oak Ln. on reports of a serious accident.
Crews from Peoria and Dunlap Fire Departments and AMT also rushed to the scene for medical purposes.
Upon arrival, authorities found out through eyewitness reports a Toyota Sedan carrying eight people crossed the center line and struck a Lexus SUV with one occupant.
Seven passengers in the Toyota were taken to local hospitals with serious injuries.
A 14-year-old who was in the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene.
Later, a 1-year-old, also a passenger in the Toyota, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The driver of the Lexus was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Toyota driver, identified as 31-year-old Laetitia Bolodjwa, is the mother to all seven passengers, whose ages ranged from one to 16, according to Sheriff Brian Asbell.
Bolodjwa was charged with multiple offenses, including driving in the wrong lane and failure to secure a child in an approved child restraint system.
Asbell said the case was being forwarded to the Peoria County States Attorney’s Office for review, and possibly other charges.
