LITH Teen was Walking Home from Work When Struck by Car

Emily Weyers, 18, was walking home from work at about 9:49 p.m. Monday when she was hit by a car on Algonquin Road west of Oakleaf Road in Lake in the Hills.

Having just graduated from Dundee-Crown High School in May, the LITH teen had big plans for her life: she had a summer job, she was preparing to attend DePaul University next month and aspired to one day become an attorney.


Tragically, the injuries Weyers sustained from Monday's accident were too severe, and she was pronounced dead at Sherman Hospital in Elgin. The accident is still under investigation by the LITH Police Department.

The youngest of five Weyers children, Emily was described as a vibrant, fun-loving girl by her older brother, Joe. 

"She was a free spirit, and she loved helping others," Joe Weyers said. "She was a very good person, she had a good heart, and she loved being an aunt to her four nephews."

Joe Weyers said his little sister was also a non-conformist in some ways. When a male friend of hers decided to "come out of the closet" and publicly announce he was gay, Emily was saddened by how horribly he was treated.

"She was extremely disappointed in the way he was treated, and that was her inspiration for starting the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questions) Club at Dundee-Crown," Joe Weyers said. "She planned to minor in LGBTQ and work for that cause."

Weyers was active in theater, the color guard and the debate team while she was a student at Dundee-Crown High School. Her mother, Michelle, resides in Lake in the Hills, and her father, Thomas Weyers, lives in Algonquin. 

Weyers was only hired a few months ago as a deli clerk at Joe Caputo and Sons Market in Algonquin, but had already made an impression on the managers, co-workers and customers, according to Manager Tom (who asked that his last name not be printed).

"She was a great lady," Tom said, adding that he learned of Emily's death on Tuesday morning upon arriving at work. "The reason I hired her was for her smile and her attitude. She was a great employee, and I had customers comment on how friendly she was."

Arrangements have been made to honor Emily's life with Wait-Ross-Allanson Funeral Home in Algonquin. A visitation is planned for 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, and Funeral Mass is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 23, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Huntley. 

Read the full obituary notice here.