Aurora Dive Team. Please note this is from the Aurora IL Fire Department Facebook Page and not an image from the Wednesday, June 17, crash.

Rescuers’ heroic efforts saved the life of a 7-year-old girl after the SUV her mom was driving crashed into another vehicle, then plummeted into an Aurora retention pond Wednesday on the city’s far West Side.

Sadly, the 31-year-old Aurora woman and her 9-year-old son — both critically injured in the June 17 crash — died in area hospitals over the weekend, according to a press release issued Monday by the Aurora Police Department.

Maria Ramirez of the 500 block of Jackson Street, who was the driver of the 2003 GMC Envoy, was pronounced dead at about 11 p.m., June 20, at Delnor Hospital in Geneva. Her son, Ronaldo Alanis-Ramirez, passed away at just before noon, June 21, at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

The 4:56 a.m. crash last Wednesday, occurred on Edgelawn Drive, just north of Sullivan Road.

According to the investigation so far, Ramirez was driving the SUV, which was also occupied by her 7-year-old daughter, Monserrat Alanis-Ramirez, east out of the parking lot of an industrial business at 1700 N. Edgelawn. She collided with a 2008 Toyota Scion driven by a 35-year-old Aurora man that was headed north on Edgelawn and waiting to turn into the same parking lot. The Envoy continued east after the collision and ended up in the retention pond about 50 yards off shore.

An Aurora police officer was first on-scene and saw the little girl in the water trying to stay afloat. He proceeded to swim to the SUV, which was totally submerged, and rescued her. He was assisted in pulling her to shore by another officer and a witness, a 28-year-old Montgomery man, who had both arrived on scene shortly after the officer. Monserrat was treated at an Aurora hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

An Aurora Fire Department Dive Team was able to pull Ronaldo out of the water at about 5:27 a.m. and Maria at about 5:40 a.m.

The driver of the Scion received non-life-threatening injuries and was also treated at an Aurora hospital.

The SUV was pulled out of the water about 6:15 a.m.

Aurora Police Department traffic investigators are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash. Anyone who may have witnessed it is asked to call them at 630-256-5330.

An autopsy on Maria Ramirez is scheduled for Monday at the Kane County Coroner’s Office. An autopsy on Ronaldo is pending in Cook County.

SOURCE: Aurora Police Department press release

East Aurora School District Mourns Passing of Ronaldo Alanis-Ramirez

The East Aurora School District 131 community is mourning the death of Dieterich Elementary student Ronaldo Alanis-Ramirez and his mother, Maria Ramirez. Ronaldo, his mother, and another family member were involved in a two-car crash in Aurora on Wednesday, June 22. Both Ronaldo and his mother died this past weekend at Chicago area hospitals.

Ronaldo Alanis-Ramirez completed third grade at Dieterich Elementary School in June. Ronaldo had been at Dieterich Elementary School since kindergarten.

Dieterich Elementary School Principal Julia Doverspike said Ronaldo was a good student who was full of excitement for school. He was interested all types of subjects.

“He’d ask you about pyramids and Egypt. He was interested in lots of things other kids his age knew nothing about. He was interested in life,” Doverspike said.

Doverspike said Ronaldo was energetic and funny. He loved to play soccer with local teams, Doverspike said.

The East Aurora School District 131 crisis team was available at the school Monday morning for any students who may have known the family. More information about how to speak with students who may have been affected is available here.

A photo of Ronaldo Alanis-Ramirez is available here.

More information about the accident is available from the City of Aurora Police Department.

Services have not yet been set.

Friends of the Alanis-Ramirez family have set up a fundraiser for the family at: http://www.youcaring.com/ronaldo-maria-monserat-and-abelino-alanis-ramirez-374679