Illinois Dad Who Lost His Family In A Horrible High Way Crash Also Passes Away

The father from Illinois whose wife, four children, and a young family friend were killed in a head-on highway collision has also died, making him the eighth fatality in the horrific weekend collision.

Facebook / Lauren Dobosz

Thomas Dobosz, 32, was initially airlifted to a hospital in critical condition after his Chevrolet van collided with an Acura TSX traveling the wrong way on Interstate 90 around 2 a.m. Sunday, according to Illinois State Police.

Both vehicles "became engulfed in flames," killing Jennifer Fernandez, 22, and Dobosz's wife, four children, and a 13-year-old family friend with them.

Facebook / Lauren Dobosz

However, the father was also "subsequently pronounced deceased," police said in an update Wednesday, confirming that all parties involved had died.

Alan Wiedmeyer of Illinois told DailyMail.com that he was driving to a fishing tournament in the early hours of Sunday morning when he was nearly hit head-on by a car that had made a sudden U-turn on I-90 in front of him.

Fox 32 Chicago

'It headed straight for me as I was in the middle lane, and luckily I was able to swerve out of the way before it hit me,' he said, adding that he flashed his lights at them but the car kept going. 'The cars behind me also veered out of the way just in time.' 

Wiedmeyer said he received texts about 10-15 minutes later from fellow tournament-goers who alerted him that I-90 was closed after two vehicles had collided and burst into flames. 

Facebook / Lauren Dobosz

'Immediately my mind went to the car going in the wrong direction,' he said. 

'My heart just sunk, especially finding out that five kids had lost their lives,' Wiedmeyer said.

'I felt guilt too that I could have stopped it and hit the other vehicle before it got to them,' he added. 

'I have a two-year-old of my own, and I couldn't imagine losing a child in such a horrific accident.'

An online fundraiser that had raised more than $100,000 by Thursday also shared the news "heartbrokenly."

“Tom has gained his angel wings and is now with his amazing wife Lauren and precious children,” the fundraiser said, asking for people to “keep this family in your prayers.”

Facebook / Lauren Dobosz

Fernandez was alone in the Acura at the time of the accident, which is still being investigated, according to cops. It's unclear why the Acura TSX was going in the wrong direction.

According to police, she was pronounced dead at the scene, along with all seven passengers in Dobosz's van.

The fundraiser identified them as his 31-year-old wife, Lauren Dobosz; their children, Ella, 5, Nicholas, 7, Lucas, 8, and Emma, 13; and the teen's friend, Katriona Koziara, also 13.

Before the crash in rural Riley, the family from suburban Chicago had just begun traveling to Minnesota for a vacation.

A separate fundraiser for Katriona said “she was in the prime of her youth and always seen with a smiling face and positive attitude.”