Friends, teammates and family members are grieving the devastating loss of Sariyah Watson, a 21-year-old University of Illinois Chicago track athlete who was killed in a wrong-way crash while driving home to celebrate Mother’s Day with her family.
Watson, a junior sprinter on the UIC Flames women’s track and field team and a graduate of DeKalb High School, died early Sunday morning in a two-vehicle collision on Interstate 88 near Aurora, according to Illinois State Police.
Authorities said the crash happened around 4 a.m. when the vehicle Watson was riding in was struck head-on by a wrong-way driver traveling eastbound in westbound lanes near milepost 112.25. Watson, another 21-year-old woman from DeKalb, and the 32-year-old driver of the other vehicle were all killed.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Illinois track and field communities, especially among the young athletes who had raced, trained and grown up alongside Watson.
“I just raced her on Friday. I saw her at a track meet,” friend and fellow athlete Mariah Gonzales told CBS Chicago. “It’s just crazy how life works, and just anything can happen.”
Watson had been studying sports management at UIC and was reportedly on her way back to her hometown to spend Mother’s Day with family when the crash occurred.
Her father, Antonio Watson, spoke heartbreakingly about the loss, saying there is “no script” for losing a child and describing his daughter as someone who lived with determination and resilience.
“The finish line came too soon for her,” he said.
Friends say Watson’s presence stretched far beyond athletics. Known for her infectious laugh, humor and support for others, she had built lifelong bonds through AAU track and collegiate competition.
“She was such an easy person to love,” Gonzales said. “Everybody loves Sariyah.”
Friend Ava Spencer said it was clear Watson was heading home when the crash happened.
“She definitely was on her way home because that road is near her house,” Spencer said.
For some of her closest friends, the loss still feels impossible to process.
“I was texting her … the hour before she even passed away,” said friend Janiya Bowman. “That’s why it’s hitting hard for me.”
Another friend, Jahnel Bowman, described the grief as surreal.
“There’s nothing I could do to speak to my friend again,” Bowman said. “It feels surreal.”
UIC’s athletic department released a statement mourning the young athlete, with the university’s athletic director saying the school community’s “hearts are broken” by the tragedy.
“Our hearts are broken by this tragic loss,” the statement read. “On behalf of UIC, we extend our deepest condolences to Sariyah’s family, friends, teammates and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
The university has also made counseling and support services available for student-athletes, coaches and members of the campus community affected by the loss.
As investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the crash, loved ones are remembering Watson not just as a talented sprinter, but as a bright spirit whose energy filled every room she entered.
“Sariyah was very funny, she was great to talk to,” Bowman said. “She was just a great person. I love my friend. I’ll forever remember her.”
