Araceli Zepeda Dies After I-88 Crash Near Ashton, Illinois – October 20, 2025

In Rockford, Illinois, authorities confirmed the death of 27-year-old Araceli Zepeda of Rochelle following a serious vehicle collision on Interstate 88 the morning of October 20, 2025. According to the Winnebago County Coroner’s Office and Illinois State Police, Zepeda was a passenger in a vehicle that collided with another car before losing control and veering into a tree line near milepost 71, just outside Ashton. First responders arrived shortly after 9:30 a.m. to find Zepeda unresponsive.

She was airlifted to a hospital in Rockford, where she succumbed to her injuries around 8 p.m. the same day. Another individual involved in the crash was also airlifted for treatment. The Illinois State Police continue to investigate the incident, which resulted in significant delays and closures along I-88. Zepeda’s death underscores the ongoing dangers of high-speed travel and roadway collisions across northern Illinois.