AURORA, Ill. — Sariyah Watson was a young woman who embraced life with vigor and determination, always seeming to move forward with unwavering momentum.
“She approached life the way she would tackle a race—full of determination and relentless effort,” reflected her father, Antonio Watson. “It’s heart-wrenching that her race ended far too early.”
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At just 21, Sariyah was not only a promising sprinter for the University of Illinois Chicago track team but also a vibrant presence among those who knew her. Tragically, her life was cut short on Sunday morning on Interstate 88 in Aurora.
According to the Illinois State Police, a wrong-way driver collided with Sariyah’s vehicle head-on, resulting in both their deaths.
“There’s no way to script a narrative that makes sense of such an unimaginable loss,” her father expressed with profound grief.
A friend in Sariyah’s vehicle also lost her life. Relatives say Sariyah was on her way to DeKalb to visit her mom for Mother’s Day.
“I’m angry, but at this time, I’m choosing to focus on the joy that Sariyah brought our family,” said Teresa Jordan, Sariyah’s great aunt.
In a statement, the UIC athletic director said, “Our hearts are broken by this tragic loss.”
Relatives say Sariyah, who was a junior, was majoring in sports management and worked with at-risk youth in a program last summer in Seattle. She was planning to return this summer.
“Children just loved her. Her passion just showed immensely in every life that she touched,” her great aunt said.
“She was definitely my champion and always will be,” her father said.
The Kane County coroner has not yet released the name of Sariyah’s passenger and that of the other driver who was traveling in the wrong direction. Illinois State Police continue to investigate the crash.
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