12-year-old girl identified as victim in Chicago Heights crash

A 12-year-old girl has been identified as one of two people killed in a crash more than two weeks ago in south suburban Chicago Heights.

Emergency responders arrived at the crash at 7:54 a.m. on Aug. 14 at 14th Street and Chicago Road, and found a 1998 BMW engulfed in flames and a 2016 Nissan with front end damage, according to the Chicago Heights Police Department.

When the fire in the BMW was extinguished, police found the driver, a 31-year-old Chicago Heights man, and a child in the front passenger seat, police said. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The girl has been identified as 12-year-old Maritza Romero, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Her home address was unknown, and her cause and manner of death are pending further studies.

The man’s name has not been released because he has not been officially identified.

Three juveniles were pulled from the rear of the BMW and taken to St. James Health in Chicago Heights with burns, police said. They were later transferred to Stroger Hospital for treatment.

The driver of the Nissan, a 41-year-old Chicago man, was also taken to St. James Health for treatment, police said.