Neighbors mourn Crete woman killed in Indiana crash

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Updated: February 11, 2012 8:10AM

A Crete woman described by neighbors as “a very beautiful” and “really nice, hard-working lady” was killed in a weekend car crash in Indiana, officials said.

Police believe alcohol was a factor in the crash that killed Annette Orellana, 43, of the 3200 block of Forestview Trail. Orellana was pronounced dead at 12:41 a.m. Sunday at Christ Medical Center from multiple injuries suffered when her car was rear-ended early Saturday, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

The driver of the other vehicle, Anthony Vanderheyden, 35, of Dyer, Ind., suffered serious internal injuries and was airlifted to Loyola University Hospital, where he remained Monday, Lake County (Ind.) Sheriff’s spokesman Rob Arnold said. No charges had been filed as of 4:30 p.m., he said.

Residents in Orellana’s quiet neighborhood were saddened Monday to learn of her death.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Milton Franklin, who lives across the street from Orellana’s bilevel home. “She was a very beautiful lady. She was quiet and kept to herself, but she gave me an open invitation to fish in that lake behind her house whenever I wanted.”

Breanna Young, who lives next door to Orellana, wondered if her neighbor was driving home from work when the accident happened.

“She was a really nice, hard-working lady. She did a lot working jobs at night to support her family,” Young said.

Young said Orellana had four children, but that could not immediately be verified, and no information about their ages was available.

Orellana was driving westbound near 98th and Sheffield avenues outside St. John, Ind. — about two miles from her home — when her car was rear-ended about 2:42 a.m. Saturday, Lake County Sheriff’s police Sgt. Steven Trajkovich said. He said it is believed alcohol was a factor in the wreck.

There were no passengers in either car, and no one else was hurt.

Franklin said he’ll miss seeing Orellana in the neighborhood.

“She was the type of neighbor who would look out for you and for the area,” Franklin said.

There was no answer at the Orellana home Monday afternoon when a reporter visited.

Arrangements are pending.

Contributing: Sun-Times Media