Driver in fatal Joliet crash accused of disregarding red stoplight

A 19-year-old driver who was involved in a Joliet crash that killed two people disregarded a red stoplight before the collision, police said.

New details about the crash Sunday that killed Walter Kretzler III, 65, and Roxane Holt, 59, both of Joliet, were released in a statement Wednesday from Joliet police Sgt. Dwayne English.

The investigation so far has revealed that the 19-year-old driver of a Chevrolet Tahoe allegedly disregarded the red light and traveled north on 129th Infantry Drive at Black Road, English said.

The Chevrolet Tahoe entered an intersection in the area and collided with a Chevrolet Trailblazer that was driven by Kretzler and occupied by Holt.

The 19-year-old driver and his passenger tried to run from the scene after the crash, English said.

Charges have not yet been filed in connection with the crash.

“Criminal charges resulting from this crash are at the behest of a thorough and complete investigation of the incident,” English said.

The investigation of the crash by the traffic unit of the Joliet Police Department remains ongoing.

The crash was first discovered by an officer on patrol at 2:06 a.m. Sunday. Officers learned that the crash caused Kretzler’s vehicle to leave the road, strike a fire hydrant and overturn on its passenger side, English said.

Although officers were able to quickly stop the 19-year-old driver from fleeing the scene, they were not able to find his passenger, English said.