A woman faces drunk driving charges after a Chicago car accident Tuesday night that killed one woman and seriously injured a 9-year-old girl who was ejected from the vehicle, the Sun-Times reported.
The accident happened about 10:15 p.m. on Interstate 57 on the city’s Far South Side.
A Ford Escort was northbound near Halsted Street when the female driver loss control, crossed several lanes of traffic, and drove off the right embankment into a light pole, according to Illinois State Police.
A 9-year-old girl, who was sitting in the back seat, was ejected from the vehicle and landed in the grass, where the light pole fell on top of her.
The driver of the vehicle was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with “non-life threatening” injuries, police reported.
The woman riding in the front passenger seat of the Escort was transported to Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers in Evergreen Park where she was pronounced dead at 10:24 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The driver, who is reportedly the mother of the 9-year-old girl, was charged with DUI and those charges could be upgraded, according to state police.
During the crash investigation, an intoxicated motorist attempted to pass the accident scene and was arrested for violating Scott’s Law.
Scott’s Law increases the penalties for drivers who don’t yield or move over for stopped emergency vehicles.