Tom was the lone survivor of the crash which killed his wife Lauren Dobosz, a long-time cheer coach, and their children.
On 31 July, 2022, a cheer coach with her four children were among the seven people killed in a wrong-way vehicle crash. Her husband, Tom Dobosz, 32, was the only one who had survived the crash and was airlifted to a hospital where he was in critical condition. Tom died on Wednesday, according to a press release from the Illinois State Police.
Lisa Torres of the Oriole Park Falcons, a youth travel football and cheer group in which the family was participating, also announced Tom's death, reports PEOPLE. She wrote in an update on the GoFundMe page set up by the family, "Tom has gained his angel wings and is now with his amazing wife Lauren and precious children. We ask that you keep this family in your prayers."
Illinois State Police confirm Tom Dobosz, the lone survivor of a head-on crash this weekend, has also died. A GoFundMe has raised more than $93k for funeral expenses for his family. @WBBMNewsradio
— Nancy Harty (@newsnance) August 3, 2022
The Dobosz family was on their way to Minnesota for a vacation when the accident occurred. Tom was heading westbound on Interstate 90 in McHenry County with his wife Lauren Dobosz, 31, and their four children, ages 5 to 13, when they were hit by a 2010 Acura TSX traveling in the opposite direction around milepost 335, according to police. Both cars caught fire and Lauren, her four children, Emma, Lucas, Nicky and Ella, and a 13-year-old family friend died at the site, per WLS-TV.
The driver of Acura, Jennifer Fernandez, 22, of Carpentersville, was also declared dead at the scene. Following the collision, Tom was evacuated to Loyola University Medical Center in critical condition, but he died three days later. It's unclear why Fernandez was driving the wrong way on I-90 on Sunday. The accident is still being investigated, per The Chicago-Sun Times.
Lauren Dobosz, a long time cheer coach with the Oriole Park Falcons, was killed along with her 4 children over the weekend in wrong way collision on I-90 near Hampshire. Her husband Tom is hospitalized at Loyola. A 13 y/o family friend in their van also died. @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/tpu1DsyVye
— Dana Rebik (@DanaRebikWGN) August 1, 2022
The Oriole Park Falcons are a close-knit group where Lauren was a cheer coach, while Tom worked with both the cheer and football teams. The team's coach, Sam Filpi, stated that his faith is what keeps him going throughout this difficult time. He said, "I just basically dropped my phone and I just couldn't believe it. We didn't know what to do. We didn't know. You don't know what to do in that situation."
He added, "They were always there. And her as a team mom, they were always there. That's commitment and love of a program, a love of the people in the program. That's how we felt about them."
UPDATE: Tom Dobosz, the driver who had survived a fiery I-90 crash near Hampshire on Sunday that killed the rest of his family, plus another child, has died of his injuries.https://t.co/azZe9BCiQM
— Adriana Pérez (@adrianamperezr) August 3, 2022
The Community Consolidated School District 15, where all five of the children went, is providing emotional assistance to people touched by the terrible tragedy. District Superintendent Dr. Heinz said, "Our efforts right now are focused on offering support to our entire community, with special emphasis on Willow Bend Elementary, Central Road Elementary, and Carl Sandburg Junior High where the students attended school."
A GoFundMe campaign set up for the family's funeral expenses has raised over $100,000 until now.
References:
https://people.com/human-interest/father-dies-days-after-wrong-way-crash-killed-wife-and-children/
https://abc7chicago.com/hampshire-mchenry-county-crash-car-rolling-meadows-il/12096059/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/7/31/23286133/mchenry-county-crash-children-
https://www.gofundme.com/f/dobosz-family-funeral-expenses?qid=3dc564a3770d63fb42835ff52d13ce84
Cover Image Source: GoFundMe/Dobosz Family Funeral Expenses
