Jillian Tsirtsis pictured with brothers Jason, Michael and AlexThe man driving the vehicle, identified by the Tribune as Christopher Peacock, 33, of Indiana, has been charged with reckless homicide. On Sunday a judge set bail at $350,000. He is still hospitalized with neck and back injuries.
The driver's father, Clarence Peacock, told DNAinfo.com that the couple was headed to Ravinia, an outdoor concert facility in Highland Park, to see Lenny Kravitz.
No other vehicles were involved in the crash, according to a Chicago police spokesperson.
After the accident, northbound lanes on Lake Shore Drive were closed for several hours. By 11 p.m., lanes were reopened, but police remained on the scene with high-powered lights investigating the crash.
Two of Jillian Tsirtsis' younger brothers have Big Ten collegiate mat backgrounds. The youngest, Jason Tsirtsis, just completed his sophomore season at Northwestern. As a Wildcat wrestler, the Crown Point, Ind. native has won back-to-back Big Ten titles at 149 pounds, and is a two-time NCAA All-American, winning the 149 championship at the 2014 NCAAs as a freshman, and placing third in the same weight class at the 2015 NCAAs. He was named InterMat Freshman of the Year for 2014. Brother Alex Tsirtsis wrestled at the University of Iowa from 2004-2009, earning NCAA All-American honors at 141 pounds at the 2006 NCAAs.
Jillian Tsirtsis is survived by her parents, Marino and Dawn Tsirtsis; brothers Michael, Alexander and Jason Tsirtsis; grandfathers, George Tsirtsis and Timothy Etter; and niece Mila Tsirtsis.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday Sept. 8, 2015 at Kish Funeral Home 10000 Calumet Ave. Munster, Ind. from 2:00 pm. to 8:00 p.m., with a Trisagion service at 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2015 at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church 7021 Hohman Ave. Hammond, Ind. with the. Father David Bissias, officiating. Interment will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Hammond.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to 826CHI, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.
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