Tragedy Strikes McHenry: Two Teens Killed in Deadly Crash Involving Suspected Drunk Driver
Just after midnight, the stillness of McHenry’s streets was shattered by a catastrophic crash that claimed the lives of two teenagers and exposed a heartbreaking tale of reckless choices and shattered families.
Emergency crews responded around 12:30 a.m. Monday to a violent three-car collision at the intersection of Route 31 (Richmond Road) and McCullom Lake Road. Authorities say the crash was caused by an 18-year-old driver allegedly driving under the influence with a blood alcohol concentration more than four times the legal limit.
Deputy Police Chief Thomas Walsh reported that a red 2006 Audi A4, driven by Jason K. Land of Fox River Grove, was speeding southbound when it ran a red light and collided with a black 2015 Nissan Sentra. The Sentra, making a left turn, was pushed into a nearby parked 2003 Toyota Echo, which was unoccupied at the time.
Tragically, the Nissan carried two passengers—a 19-year-old woman and a 14-year-old boy—both pronounced dead at the scene by the McHenry County Coroner’s Office. The female victim was later identified as Perla Tejeda, a McCullom Lake resident, while the boy, also from the same area, was referred to in court documents only as “A.H.”
Autopsies confirmed both died from blunt force trauma sustained during the crash.
Fire Battalion Chief Chris Kozel described the chaotic aftermath: two victims were found outside the vehicles, while Land, critically injured, had to be carefully extricated from his Audi. He was treated at Northwestern Medicine Hospital McHenry and released the same day.
Law enforcement quickly took Land into custody, charging him with two counts of aggravated DUI causing death—a felony—and four misdemeanor DUI counts. He also faces a citation for failing to reduce speed to avoid the crash.
Court documents allege Land’s blood alcohol level was 0.350, an alarming figure that prosecutors say directly caused the fatal collision.
During Land’s initial court hearing, the State’s Attorney’s Office petitioned for pre-trial detention, labeling him a significant threat to public safety. Judge Cynthia Lamb approved the request, and Land remains held at McHenry County Jail, awaiting a status and preliminary hearing set for August 7.
The intersection was closed for nearly seven hours as the McHenry County Regional Crash Assistance Team—comprising officers from several departments—conducted a thorough investigation.
⚠️ Final Reflection:
The devastating loss of Perla Tejeda and the unnamed 14-year-old boy serves as a stark reminder of the deadly consequences that come with impaired driving. With a blood alcohol content more than four times the legal limit, Jason Land’s reckless choice to speed through a red light did far more than cause a crash—it forever altered the lives of families and a community. As legal proceedings continue, the tragedy reinforces an urgent call for responsible driving, awareness, and strict accountability to prevent similar heartbreak in the future.