New York native killed, 4 seriously injured after two boats collide on Lake Michigan

A New York native known for her “heart of gold” was killed in a horrific multi-boat crash on Lake Michigan late Thursday night that left 4 seriously injured.

Johanna Gregory, 26, died when a boat allegedly overtook another vessel, causing a collision at approximately 11:30 p.m. near Chicago’s Monroe Harbor, Jason Lach, Deputy District Chief of the Chicago Fire Department’s Marine Dive Operations, told reporters Friday.

She died Friday morning after being rushed to a hospital in grave condition.

Gregory, a pediatric occupational therapist originally from Rochester, NY, moved to the Windy City and recently started a new job in February, according to her LinkedIn profile.

“She had a heart of gold and … I don’t understand how someone so sweet could be taken from us,” her father, Douglas Gregory, told the Chicago Sun-Times.

The two boats involved in the fatal crash, a 38-foot and a 42-foot vessel, were roughly 1.5 miles from Monroe Harbor, a popular docking spot in Downtown Chicago, officials said.

The three boaters left in critical condition were riding on the boat that was struck as the second vessel rode on top of the other, Lach said.

Officials didn’t reveal which boat Gregory had been a passenger on.

“It was a definite hard collision,” Lach said.

Two people were thrown overboard from the force of the crash, but both boaters were rescued by other passengers before first responders arrived at the scene.

Detectives are investigating if alcohol or drugs were involved and if the boat that was struck had lights on at the time of the crash.

Water and weather conditions are not believed to have played a role in the fatal collision, Lach said.

The boat passengers ranged in age from approximately 18 to 26.

“There’s a lot of questions we can’t answer until all the investigations done,” Lach said.

Gregory, a graduate of Gannon University in Pennsylvania, was remembered after her time as a Division II volleyball player.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Johanna’s family, friends, former teammates, coaches, and all who knew and loved her. She will always be remembered as a member of the Golden Knight family,” the Gannon University Athletics Department said.