Naperville Police Investigate Fatal Traffic Crash on Auburn Avenue

On Dec. 23, 2024, just prior to 9 p.m., Naperville Police Department and Naperville Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the 1400 block of Auburn Avenue for a report of a vehicle on fire with someone inside. Police and Fire personnel arrived on scene, and upon the fire being extinguished, confirmed a victim was still inside the vehicle. 

The preliminary investigation indicates that a 2018 Toyota Rav 4, driven by the victim, Amanda Baratka, a 38-year-old female from Naperville, was traveling southbound on Wehrli Drive when it left the roadway, struck two light poles, and came to rest on a private residential driveway where the vehicle then caught fire. Ms. Baratka was later pronounced dead on the scene. A young female family member was also inside the vehicle at the time of the crash. She was able to escape the vehicle and appeared uninjured.

Due to the nature of the crash, traffic crash investigators and reconstruction specialists from the Naperville Police Department’s Traffic Unit responded to the scene. 

This traffic crash is still under investigation by the Naperville Police Department. The exact cause of death for Ms. Baratka is under investigation by the DuPage County Coroner’s Office. Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to contact the Naperville Police Department’s Traffic Unit at (630) 420-8833.

About Naperville: Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Ill., is home to approximately 150,000 people. This vibrant, thriving city consistently ranks as a top community in the nation in which to live, raise children and retire. The city is home to acclaimed public and parochial schools, the best public library system in the country, an array of healthcare options and an exceptionally low crime rate. Naperville has ready access to a variety of public transportation, housing and employment options. The city’s diversified employer base features high technology firms, retailers and factories, as well as small and home-based businesses. Residents also enjoy world-class parks, diverse worship options, the opportunity to serve on several City boards and commissions, a thriving downtown shopping and dining area, a renowned outdoor history museum known as Naper Settlement and an active civic community. For more information, please visit our website at www.naperville.il.us.