In Loving Memory of Chloe Verni-Lau

With profound sadness, family, friends, and the community are mourning the loss of Chloe Verni-Lau, 19, who died following a devastating head-on crash in Boone County, Illinois, late Friday night.

According to authorities, the fatal collision occurred at approximately 10:54 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026, on Spring Creek Road. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office reported that a Ford Taurus driven by 28-year-old Shaquan Hayes was traveling on the roadway when it crossed the center line and collided head-on with an oncoming Toyota.

Investigators allege that Hayes was intoxicated at the time of the crash. The violent collision left several people in the Toyota seriously injured and prompted emergency responders to rush to the scene.

Chloe Verni-Lau was among those involved in the Toyota. Three passengers from the vehicle were transported to area hospitals for treatment of serious injuries. Despite emergency medical efforts, Chloe was later pronounced dead at approximately 11:42 p.m.

At just 19 years old, Chloe had a life filled with possibilities still ahead of her. Her death represents a heartbreaking loss not only for those who knew and loved her personally, but also for everyone affected by the tragedy.

The moments surrounding the crash have left loved ones facing a pain that words cannot fully express. A young life was suddenly taken, leaving behind memories, unanswered questions, and the enduring grief that follows the loss of someone who should have had many more years to experience life.

Chloe’s family and friends will undoubtedly remember her through the moments they shared with her—the conversations, laughter, kindness, memories, and everyday experiences that become especially precious after someone is gone. Though her life was far too short, the impact she made on the people around her will remain part of her legacy.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. The crash serves as another painful reminder of how quickly a decision to drive while impaired can affect innocent people and permanently alter families and communities.

For those who loved Chloe, the road ahead will be difficult. Grief does not disappear quickly, and the loss of someone so young can leave an especially profound emptiness. During this difficult time, family and friends may find comfort in coming together, sharing memories, supporting one another, and keeping Chloe’s memory alive.

Chloe Verni-Lau will be remembered not simply as a victim of a tragic crash, but as a 19-year-old young woman whose life mattered and whose presence touched the lives of others.

May her memory continue to live on in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved her. May her family and friends find strength and comfort in the memories they hold close, and may they never forget the life and love Chloe brought into their world.

Rest in peace, Chloe Verni-Lau. Your life was precious, your time was far too short, and your memory will endure.