High-speed Freeport crash claims life of 18-year-old driver, child passenger injured

FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO) — An 18-year-old driver was killed, and a minor child seated in the back seat was injured, after a high-speed crash in Freeport on the Fourth of July.

According to the Freeport Police Department, Eric Francisco-Martinez was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on Stephenson Street around 5:45 p.m. when he lost control of his Toyota and hit a tree.

Authorities had to extricate Francisco-Martinez from the vehicle and take him to FHN Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The minor was also taken to a regional hospital for injuries.

The Freeport Police Department is the agency investigating the crash.