The 32-year-old Rolling Meadows father of four was being treated for serious injuries at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood after being airlifted there early Sunday morning. He was pronounced dead at 11:17 am. on Wednesday at the hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy has not yet been performed. Illinois State Police and the organizer of a GoFundMe page for the family also confirmed Dobosz’s death Wednesday. “It is with heavy hearts that we come today with an update about Tom. Tom has earned his angel wings and is now with his amazing wife Lauren and precious children. We ask that you keep this family in your prayers. All proceeds will be made available to the family,” wrote Lisa Torres of the Oriole Park Falcons, a youth and family-run travel football program on Chicago’s northwest side. While on vacation at a family cabin in Minnesota, Dobosz was behind the wheel of the family’s 2005 Chevrolet van traveling west on Interstate 90 near Hampshire when it was struck by a 2010 Acura TSX sedan traveling the wrong way. State troopers responded at 2:11 a.m. Sunday to the scene, where the vehicles were engulfed in flames. Six passengers in the van were killed: 31-year-old Lauren Dobos, her four children — 13-year-old Emma, 7-year-old Lucas, 6-year-old Nicolas and 5-year-old Ella — and 13-year-old Catriona Koziara, who was a family friend. The driver of the Acura, 22-year-old Jennifer Fernandez of Carpentersville, also died. State police said only that he was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes “for unknown reasons.” Kasia Koziara, Katriona’s mother, told the Daily Herald Wednesday that she is making funeral arrangements and hopes to have a memorial service at a Rolling Meadows park soon. Affectionately known to family and friends as Kat, the teenager was a student teacher who taught classes and mentored students at the Prospect Heights-based Breaking Program, a breakdancing group that offers dance lessons and workshops. “It’s so precious to support us as Katriona was and will always be loved and remembered by so many,” her mum said. “She deserves the best goodbye I can give to celebrate her life and heavenly future.” On Wednesday night, friends of Thomas Dobosz gathered for an impromptu memorial during football practice at Chicago’s Oriole Park. It was the same location where a balloon release memorial was held Monday for the rest of the Dobosz family and Kat Koziara. “Tom was very good with his hands, being a carpenter, mechanic, electrician — he was like a Jack of all trades,” said cheer coach Wanda Perez of Chicago. According to Perez, Lauren and Thomas Dobosz met and fell in love at Ridgewood Community High School in Norridge. The couple later moved and raised their family in Rolling Meadows to help Lauren’s grandparents. “They were so loving, caring and giving,” said Perez, who befriended Lauren and Tom Dobosz in 2013. “Our friendship extended beyond coaching.” A family member of Dobosz confirmed Wednesday that there are three online fundraising pages set up on GoFundMe to help pay for funeral and other expenses. The Oriole Park Falcons fundraiser, gofundme.com/f/dobosz-family-funeral-expenses, raised more than $98,000 for the Dobosz family. The Rolling Meadows Police Department Hope Fund, gofundme.com/f/rmpd-hope-fund, has raised more than $43,000. A page set up by Lauren Dobosz’s parents, gofundme.com/f/tom-and-lauren-dobosz-family, has raised nearly $26,000. “I can’t imagine the pain and suffering the Dobosz and Johns families are feeling,” Perez said. “I also send my sincere condolences to the family of Jennifer Fernandez, because I can’t imagine how they are feeling and what they are thinking. They too have suffered a loss.” Funeral arrangements are pending. • Daily Herald staff writer Scott C. Morgan contributed to this report.
