Police: Bencini Might Have Suffered Heart Attack

Geneva police reports say beloved educator and community volunteer Mary Bencini, 62, of 609 Fulton St., suffered “a fatal, unknown medical emergency, possibly a heart attack,” following a crash at 7:56 p.m. April 7 in the 500 block of West State Street, about 75 feet west of South Fifth Street, reports said.

Bencini was driving her 1998 Ford Explorer east in the 500 block of West State Street when she suffered the medical emergency “that apparently caused her to lose consciousness,” reports said.

After she lost consciousness, the Explorer drifted to the right and off the roadway, striking a large garden pot in the Pure Gardener building, 502 W. State St., reports said.

Officers found Bencini slumped over her steering wheel with the vehicle locked. She was not responding to witnesses, who were knocking on the window of the vehicle.

A Geneva police officer used a lockout tool to gain entry to the front passenger door. Officers confirmed that Bencini was not breathing and not responsive.

Additional officers arrived and removed Bencini from the vehicle. One began cardio-pulmonary resuscitation efforts while another retrieved an automated external defibrillator, which another officer used, "with negative results,” according to reports.

Medic 251 transported Bencini to Delnor Hospital, where she died, Geneva police reports said.

A visitation is being planned by Malone Funeral Home.