Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
A tragic accident occurred late Friday night in the South Austin neighborhood of Chicago, leaving one young man dead, and four others were injured.
According to a police spokesperson, the accident happened at around 11:20 p.m. in the 5200 block of West Harrison Street. Reportedly, a car carrying three passengers struck a squad car near the intersection of West Harrison Street and South Laramie Avenue.
One witness’s account stated that, “That [car] had to be traveling at least 80. “He had a red light. He came across the red light. He hit the police vehicle, and after that he spun and hit the parked vehicle, and continued to hit a couple more people before he hit the pole.”
According to reports, a passenger was ejected from the car and hit a pole, killing him. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office pronounced the 18 year old dead just before 3 a.m.
The two officers involved in the crash did not sustain serious injuries, and were transported to Stroger Hospital. The two remaining individuals involved in the crash were brought to Mt. Sinai Hospital in critical condition.
Later reports of the accident stated that the driver was intoxicated when he drove head on into the police car, and then hit a light pole. The driver has since been charged with reckless homicide, aggravated DUI involving death and aggravated DUI involving bodily harm. Police stated that he was also cited for driving while his license was suspended and not having insurance.
DUI fatality statistics are startling. According to the Illinois Secretary of State, the average DUI offender is:
- male (80 percent arrested are men);
- 34 years old (61 percent are under age 35);
- arrested between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on a weekend; and
- are caught driving with a BAC of .16, approximately twice the illegal limit
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated one in every seven, or 14.28% of nighttime weekend drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Additionally, someone dies every 51 minutes in America as a result of the thoughtless and senseless act of someone climbing behind the wheel after having too much to drink.
If you or a loved one have been hurt or killed as the result of a DUI accident, let the Illinois DUI car accident attorneys at Abels & Annes help you. We can help you during this difficult time through the daunting process in order to assess and understand your rights and potential remedies. We will fight to help you to ensure that you recover everything that you are entitled to. Call us today in order to schedule your free initial consultation. You can reach us by calling (312) 924-7575, or through our online contact form.
More Blog Posts:
Off Duty Police Officer Kills 2 College Students in Chicago DUI Wrong Way Crash, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published April 14, 2013
Tragic Rollover Crash on Westside Kills Driver, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published April 12, 2013