Investigators said 14 people were involved in the late-night Lake Michigan crash.
CHICAGO, IL — A 26-year-old woman died and several other people were seriously hurt after two recreational boats collided late Thursday near Monroe Harbor, setting off a large rescue response on Lake Michigan, authorities said Friday.
Cook County officials identified the woman as Johanna H. Gregory, a Chicago resident from the West Loop. The crash involved 14 people aboard two boats that were returning toward shore shortly before midnight. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is leading the investigation, with help from the U.S. Coast Guard and Chicago police.
The collision happened around 11:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. Thursday, June 25, about 1.5 miles from shore and east of Monroe Harbor, officials said. Chicago Fire Department Deputy District Chief Jason Lach said the first call for help came from someone aboard one of the boats. “Two vessels were coming back into port,” Lach said. “One vessel overtook another one, and there was a collision that happened.”
Officials said the boats were about 38 feet and 42 feet long. One boat carried nine people, and the other carried five. Five people were taken to hospitals after the crash, including Gregory, who later died. Three people were reported in serious-to-critical condition, and another was listed in fair condition in one account. Other officials said four people had serious injuries. Nine others declined medical treatment, according to emergency officials.
Fire crews reached the boats within about seven minutes after the call came in. Two people had gone into the water, but others on the boats pulled them back aboard before rescuers arrived, officials said. Crews brought the injured to shore in about 45 minutes. One vessel had heavy topside and stern damage, while the other had damage underneath. Officials said the boat carrying the injured passengers appeared to have suffered the worst damage.
The crash happened near the breakwalls outside Monroe Harbor, where navigation lights guide boaters after dark. Lach said the boats were traveling south or southwest when they collided. He said investigators had not determined whether the crash was a rear-end collision. The lake was moving, with waves of about 1 to 2 feet, but officials said conditions were not whitecap-level and did not appear to be the main factor.
Investigators had not said Friday what caused the crash. Officials said they had not determined whether alcohol played a role or whether both boats had running lights on at the time of impact. Both vessels had harbor passes, but officials did not immediately say where they were registered. The boats were later brought back to shore, including one that was towed near Queen’s Landing and another taken to the Chicago police Marine Unit.
Gregory’s father, Douglas Gregory, said his daughter was a pediatric occupational therapist who worked with young children. He described her as “the sweetest human being” and said she “had a heart of gold.” A former coworker, Elizabeth Benney, said Gregory worked with children in early intervention and had a strong effect on families across Chicago. “She was a skilled occupational therapist,” Benney said.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources investigates serious boating crashes in the state. State rules require boating accidents to be reported when someone dies, when someone is hurt beyond first aid or when property damage meets reporting levels. Because the crash included a death and multiple serious injuries, officials said the investigation will include interviews, vessel inspections and a review of what each boat was doing before impact.
The U.S. Coast Guard said the people involved ranged in age from about 18 to 26. Lt. Cmdr. James Alling said the crash was a reminder that safety on the water begins before a boat leaves the dock. Officials said everyone involved was cooperating with investigators as of Friday, and no charges had been announced. Authorities also had not released the names or updated medical conditions of the other injured boaters.
At Monroe Harbor on Friday, professional captain Matt Neylon said boating at night can be difficult because visibility drops quickly away from shore. Neylon, who has worked in the harbor for four years, said speed and poor visibility can make it hard to judge what other boats are doing. “I feel really bad,” he said. “I just wish the best for everybody in that situation.”
The case remained under investigation Friday evening. An autopsy was expected for Gregory, and state investigators had not announced a timeline for releasing a final report or deciding whether citations or charges would follow.
Author note: Last updated June 26, 2026.