Accident takes life of student

By Marianne Renner

A 19-year-old girl died and three others were severely injured after their car collided with a semi tractor-trailer on Route 38 and Malta Road Thursday morning.

Dina C. Parish, 19, 5231 W. Adams, Chicago, was pronounced dead at 1 p.m. by the DeKalb County Coroner. She was driving south on Malta Road and turned left onto Route 38 when a GMC semi traveling west on the road collided into the her two-door Ford Fiesta.

All of the passengers were transported to Kishwaukee Community Hospital by DeKalb and Malta Fire Department ambulances. The truck driver, Bernard Slinkman, of Brookfield, sustained minor injuries and was taken to Kishwaukee Hospital as well. One passenger was taken by helicopter to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Rockford.

DeKalb Fire Department Capt. Warren Lubbers said the victims were “extricated” from the car, which was wrapped around a utility pole. “One patient was flown from the car, and all of them suffered severe injuries,” he said.

Jacqueline Moore, 1110 Varsity, Landria Dennis, 211 Douglas, and Harold Dennis, 908 Greenbriar, were the other passengers in the car. All of the passengers were Kishwaukee Community College students and were said to be leaving the campus.

DeKalb County Coroner Dennis Miller and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Police are investigating the incident and an inquest is pending. No foul play is suspected, police said.

Sheriff Roger Scott said the traveling speed of the truck has not been determined.