Crime & Safety
Updated: Heights Woman Died of Natural Causes as 4-year-old Son Steered Car
Samantha Volk, of Chicago Heights, died Friday afternoon in Schererville, Ind. before her 4-year-old son steered her car into a ditch near U.S. 30 and Harvest Drive.
Updated 3:45pm Aug. 1: The Lake County Coroner's Office said Samantha Volk did not sustain visible injuries in the crash, and died of natural causes.
Police said Chicago Heights woman died Friday afternoon after her 4-year-old son steered her car into a ditch, according to a Sun-Times Media news report.
Samantha Volk, 32, was seen driving a 2000 silver Ford Focus in Schererville, Ind. east U.S. 30 near Harvest Drive, said Schererville Police Cmdr. Peggi Calderaro, when witnesses reportedly saw her son sitting on her lap. Volk activated her hazard lights, and after pulling over to the left lane near the median, the car headed north, crossing the two westbound U.S. 30 lanes.
Find out what's happening in Chicago Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Police said the two were taken to Dyer, Ind.-based Franciscan St. Margaret Health, where Volk later died. Volk's son was released from the hospital to Volk's mother.