Frankfort Teen Dies in Traffic Accident

A Frankfort girl died from injuries after a two-vehicle accident in Orland Park Friday night, while another teen was injured but later released from care.

Julie Gorczynski, 17, of Frankfort was pronounced dead after being taken to Palos Community Hospital. A 17-year-old girl from Mokena was driving a 1997 Jeep Cherokee in which Gorczynski was riding at the time of the crash, and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center where she was later released after being treated.

Gorczynski graduated from Lincoln-Way North High School this year. She would have turned 18 on June 16.

At least three Orland Fire Protection District vehicles responded to the crash at 135th Street and 88th Avenue around 10:30 p.m. Friday night. According to scanner traffic, some of the people involved in the crash were trapped in one of the vehicles. The other vehicle involved in the crash is a 2009 Mazda that was driven by a 21-year-old man from Lemont, with a 19-year-old man from Tinley Park riding as a passenger. Both men were treated by paramedics on the scene, but were not sent to area hospitals, according to police.

The Cherokee was driving east on 135th Street before trying to turn left on 88th Avenue and head north at the time of the crash, according to the Orland Park Police Department. The Mazda was driving west on 135th Street and was approaching the intersection at 88th Street when the crash happened. The Orland Park Police Traffic Unit is investigating the crash, and no charges have been filed as of Saturday afternoon.

Both drivers are fully cooperating with officers investigating the accident, police said.

Traffic on 135th was snarled for about an hour, and was being detoured at Lincolnshire on the west and 86th Avenue on the east, according to scanner traffic.

Patch Night Editor Bob Bong contributed to this report.