A suburban mother of three who died when her car crashed into a creek in Elgin, Illinois, on Monday, was reportedly on her way to get doughnuts for her children on her birthday.
Erika Galvan, who turned 31 Monday, was driving a 2015 Toyota sport utility vehicle her husband had given her last month as an early birthday present when the accident took place, the Daily Herald reported.
The vehicle left the roadway and crashed into Tyler Creek near Tivoli Place and Garden Crescent Drive.
The Kane County Coroner’s office said Galvan was killed and an autopsy was conducted that same day. The cause of death has not been released, as the autopsy results are pending further investigation. Toxicology samples were sent to a forensic laboratory for analysis, the coroner’s office said.
Though the cause of the accident remains under investigation, family members suspect the icy winter storm that hit the Chicago area Monday may have played a role.
Galvan was married to Jose Pasillas and the couple had three boys, ages 7, 10 and 12, Galvan’s sister-in-law Sonia Pasillas told the Herald. She reportedly worked as a waitress at a restaurant in west Chicago.
Facebook posts from the day before Galvan’s death show family celebrating her birthday. Video shows Galvan blowing out candles on a birthday cake as family members sing to her.
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A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family pay for funeral expenses.
"Today our hearts are heavy with sadness and grief as we have lost a close family member… Erika Galvan," the page reads.
More than $4,800 had been raised as of Wednesday evening.
A wake has been scheduled for Jan. 7 at Robles Funeral Home and church services are pending, according to the fundraising page.
