Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog

A mother has hurt her own daughter in a Chicago car crash, and it is alleged she was driving drunk at the time, according to the Chicago Tribune. The car accident happened on Thursday night in the 1400 block of South Pulaski Road.

Chicago police officers actually witnessed the accident. They were in the middle of a traffic stop when the 25-year-old defendant drove by going Northbound in a 1997 Chevy. She hit a 1994 Buick, then a truck before coming to a stop.

The mother was charged with aggravated DUI, driving on a suspended license, no insurance, leaving the scene of an accident, and a no seat belt violation for both her and her daughter.

Both mother and daughter were taken by ambulance to Mt. Sinai Hospital. There injuries have not been reported.

Click here to read the story from the Chicago Breaking News Center.

Authorities are urging motorists to use caution in an effort to avoid Chicago car accidents during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

While New Year's is often cited as a dangerous holiday for driving, increased enforcement and public service announcements have largely negated the dangers. Meanwhile, the three summer holidays -- Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day -- continue to pose a significant risk to motorists on the road.

The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Police have announced intensive traffic enforcement campaigns that will run through the weekend.

Last year, 30 motorists were killed in Illinois car accidents during the Memorial Day weekend, a huge jump from the 8 deaths recorded during 2008.

"We are proud to partner with the Illinois Department of Transportation and law enforcement agencies throughout the state, to prepare the public for the summer driving months," said Illinois State Police Acting Director Jonathon E. Monken.

Of primary concern will be preventing Chicago drunk driving accidents. A total of 435 of Illinois' 1,043 car accidents were caused by a drunk driver in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Officials are also stressing boating safety in an effort to reduce Chicago boating accidents as the summer boating season begins in earnest with the arrival of Memorial Day weekend. The Chicago Tribune reports 102 Illinois boating accidents last year killed 25 people and injured 71.

Number of fatal holiday traffic accidents in Illinois in 2008

New Year's Eve: 2

Memorial Day: 7

Fourth of July: 14

Labor Day: 12

Thanksgiving: 8

Christmas: 8

Nationwide holiday traffic accidents

New Year's: 141

Memorial Day: 370

Fourth of July: 437

Labor Day: 423

Thanksgiving: 439

Christmas: 364

Continue reading " Chicago car accidents, boating accidents, a Memorial Day weekend danger " »

A twelve year old boy has been critically injured in a Chicago hit-and-run pedestrian accident on the South Side, according to the ABC News. The pedestrian accident happened on Sunday in the 8000 block of South May Street in the early evening.

The boy was crossing the street when a 2 door Cadillac struck him. The car was traveling southbound and just kept going after the accident. The driver has been described as African American, age 20-26, and is known by the alias of KB.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition. CBS News is reporting that he suffered multiple injuries and sever head trauma, facial lacerations and a fractured leg that has been surgically repaired. He is currently in a drug induced coma.

CBS News is also reporting that the child was dragged down the street before the driver fled.

Anyone with information regarding the Chicago car vs. pedestrian accident should immediately contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-745-4521.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Southtown Star.

- A Chicago car crash involving an ambulance injured a fire department paramedic and a patient early Monday morning on the Northwest Side, the Breaking News Center reported.

The ambulance was on a transport run to Resurrection Medical Center when it was struck in the 6000 block of West Foster Avenue. The 46-year-old driver of the other vehicle was also injured and taken to the hospital. He was cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.

- A Chicago bus accident involved two other vehicles and injured three people just after 7 a.m. Monday. The fire department reported the crash happened near the intersection of Lawrence and Elston avenues.

- A Chicago motorcycle accident seriously injured a man Sunday night when his motorcycle hit a guardrail on the Dan Ryan Expressway. He was thrown over the rail and landed on a residential street beneath the bridge. The rider was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious condition.

- A Chicago train accident claimed the life of a 35-year-old Wisconsin woman early Sunday. The woman was struck by a train in suburban Glenview about 3 a.m.

Through Sunday, a total of 299 people have been killed in Illinois traffic accidents, compared to 325 people killed during the same period last year, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The State Journal-Register reports that lawmakers are considering a number of new laws aimed at increasing traffic safety in Illinois. Last year, the most significant legislation to come out of the capitol was a law that banned text messaging by drivers and cell phone use in school zones and construction sites.

Laws being considered this year:

Crosswalk Safety

Toughening crosswalk safety, lawmakers are considering a law requiring motorists to stop at a crosswalk with a pedestrian in it in an effort to reduce Illinois pedestrian accidents. Currently, Illinois law uses the more ambiguous "yield" wording when dealing with crosswalks and pedestrians.

Supporters contend the law would be easier for authorities to enforce. The measure would apply to unregulated crosswalks, not those regulated by traffic signals or stop signs. Drivers who fail to stop would face a fine of at least $150.

Illinois Teen Drivers

Driving hours could be reduced for teenagers in an effort to combat Illinois car accidents involving teen drivers.

Proposed legislation would reduce by half an hour the amount of time drivers under 18 could be on the road on Friday and Saturday nights. Teen drivers would have to be off the road by 10:30 p.m. Currently, young drivers are not allowed to be on the road from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. and between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. during the week.

The measure has the support of the American Automobile Association.

“Friday and Saturday nights statistically are the most dangerous times of the week for teens to be driving,” AAA spokeswoman Beth Mosher said. “Research has shown that teen injuries and fatalities are reduced when the nighttime driving provision is set earlier.”

Excessive Speeding

A proposed law would not allow court supervision, a form of probation that can keep a citation off a driver's record, for motorists caught going more than 40 mph over the speed limit. Driving more than 40 mph over the speed limit is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $25,000 fine. However, an investigation by the media recently found more than half of drivers ticketed for driving 100 mph or faster received court supervision.

Under the proposal, drivers caught going 30 to 39 mph over the limit would also face serious consequences, including up to six months in jail and a $1,500 fine.

Illinois Bicycle Safety

A proposed law would toughen the penalty on drivers who cause an Illinois bicycle accident, pedestrian accident or accident involving a horse-drawn carriage. If a victim suffers serious injuries, a driver could face 2-5 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

The law would also make it illegal to throw something at a bicyclist.

Interstate Speed Limit

A proposal to increase the speed to 70 mph on Illinois interstates will not become law after failing to make it out of the senate. The speed limit for semis was raised to 65 mph at the beginning of the year.

Continue reading " Proposed laws aimed at reducing Chicago bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, car accidents " »

A Chicago bus accident has left seven people hurt on the Northwest Side of Chicago, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The bus vs. car crash occurred in the 3800 block of North Pulaski in the early afternoon on Thursday.

Five ambulances responded to the accident. All seven injured were taken to area hospitals. One person was in serious to critical condition.

It is being reported that the accident happened when a car in a middle lane hooked a right turn in front of the bus. The Jefferson Park District of the Chicago Police Department is handling the crash investigation.

Click here to read the story as reported by ABC News and by WGN News.

For the Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers at Abels & Annes, there is no bigger compliment than representing a supervising claims adjuster from a major insurance carrier who was injured in a crosswalk accident.

The accident occurred back on 2/25/10 at State and Lake Street in downtown Chicago. Our pedestrian client was walking northbound across Lake Street in a crosswalk on the east side of the intersection when a bus turned right and failed to observe her. She was struck by the front end of the vehicle.

The plaintiff went to the ER at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. X-rays revealed she incurred a fractured left leg in the accident. She has since been following up with an orthopaedic physician.

The Chicago Police Department investigated the accident and issued a traffic citation to the bus driver for failing to yield to a pedestrian in the crosswalk. Since the accident, the defendant has plead guilty to the charge at the Daley Center.

If you have been injured in a Chicago bus accident or a an Illinois pedestrian accident, contact the injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for a free consultation.

A teenager has been sentenced to six months in jail on drunk driving charges stemming from a fatal Chicago car accident that claimed the life of a friend and critically injured two passengers, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The teenager will serve 120 days in jail this year, 30 days in jail next year and 30 days in 2012 after pleading guilty in March to aggravated DUI and reckless homicide.

The June accident killed a 17-year-old West Chicago teenager. Police say the defendant's blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit when he lost control of his SUV and struck a tree at about 3:30 a.m. on June 14.

The teens had been partying at the home of the teenager killed in the wreck; his parents were out of state at the time. Witnesses testified that the defendant aggressively refused suggestions that he not drive. Prosecutors had requested a 10-year prison sentence.

As part of the judge's order, the teen will also have to give four talks at schools about the dangers of drunk driving. The judge also said he would reduce the sentence by one day for every additional speech the defendant makes to a school or victim impact panel.

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers 15 to 20 years old, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2008, 5,864 teenagers were involved in fatal accidents -- 2,739 were killed and more than 228,000 were injured. One-third of young drivers killed in crashes had alcohol in their system at the time of the accident.

In Illinois, 164 people died in accidents involving young drivers in 2008, including 80 young drivers and 39 young passengers.

Click here to read the Kane County Chronicle article.

Click here to read the Chicago Daily Herald article.

Police are investigating a trio of hit-and-run Chicago auto accidents, two of which involved police officers, the Breaking News Center reported.

Two officers were injured early Friday near 35th and Halsted streets when a vehicle ran a red light. The officers swerved to avoid a collision, but lost control and struck a parked car. The other car did not stop. Both officers were taken to Stroger Hospital with injuries.

The officers had been responding to a 911 call from an off-duty officer who was in an accident with a vehicle that reportedly failed to yield the right-of-way near 47th and Ashland Avenue. That car also fled the scene.

Meanwhile, police continue to investigate a hit-and-run Chicago car accident that killed a Bellwood man and injured four others on the West Side, the News Center reported.

A 19-year-old passenger was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The accident occurred near the intersection of Keeler Avenue and Jackson Boulevard shortly before midnight. The car he was riding in was struck by another vehicle and crashed into a light pole. Four others, ages 18 to 20, were also injured, according to police.

The other vehicle fled the scene following the crash.

The remaining passengers were taken to Stroger Hospital, including one passenger who was listed in critical condition.

The overnight crashes are the latest in a rash of hit-and-run accidents in Chicago. Police are looking for two other hit-and-run drivers involved in separate Chicago pedestrian accidents on Wednesday, which killed one elderly pedestrian and seriously injured another.

The most common reasons a driver flees the scene include:
-Drunk or impaired driving
-Drivers who are unlicensed or have a suspended or revoked license
-Self Preservation
-Aggressive Driving

As we frequently report, drunk driving is an epidemic blamed for as many as one-third of all traffic fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

But an often overlooked cause is driving without a license, or drivers who are on the road despite having their license suspended or revoked. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's report Unlicensed to Kill, found at least 1 in 5 fatal accidents nationwide involved one or more drivers who did not have a valid license.

A 21-year-old man has been criminally charged for allegedly driving drunk when he slammed into a Chicago police officer during a traffic stop, the Sun-Times reported.

It is the latest in a string of Chicago car accidents that have injured law enforcement officers conducting traffic stops.

As we reported last month on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, a trooper was struck on I-80 while conducted a traffic stop involving a suspected drunk driver.

The accident happened early Thursday morning on the Northwest Side. The officer had a vehicle stopped in the 5600 block of West Foster Avenue when he was struck by another vehicle. Police report the at-fault vehicle had turned onto Foster from Central and was on the wrong side of the street traveling at a high rate of speed.

The car crashed into the woman's car and her open car door slammed into the officer, throwing him to the ground. He was transported to Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center. The drivers of both vehicles were also taken to Resurrection for treatment.

The defendant was charged with DUI, negligent driving, driving without a license and failure to keep in the lane, according to Chicago police.

As we reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, Scott's Law requires motorists to move over or slow down for stopped emergency or construction vehicle's with activate lights.

Violators face a mandatory court appearance, a license suspension and a fine of up to $10,000. The law is named for a Chicago Fire Department lieutenant who was working an accident scene on the Dan Ryan Expressway when he was struck and killed by a drunk driver.

The law also applies to road crews, as authorities work to reduce the number of serious and fatal Illinois road construction accidents through the upcoming summer construction season.

A 32-year-old man is facing reckless homicide and other charges after a deadly Chicago car accident that is being blamed drunk driving, The Sun-Times reported.

The accident occurred last Friday at a busy Southwest Side intersection, where the defendant allegedly crashed into three vehicles and struck three pedestrians, killing a 25-year-old Chicago resident.

The driver is charged with reckless homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol, operating a vehicle without insurance, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, reckless driving, not using due care for a pedestrian in the roadway, and driving without a valid license, according to police.

Police report he was driving an SUV in the 4300 block of South Archer Avenue about 3:30 p.m. Friday when he crashed into the vehicles and pedestrians.

At least 8 people were injured, including three pedestrians who were walking in the intersection. One of the pedestrians was pronounced dead at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County. A small child was also taken to the hospital in critical condition.

The Chicago Breaking News Center reported that the defendant was speeding Northeast on Archer Avenue in a Lincoln SUV when it sideswiped a vehicle sitting at the red light at Kedzie Avenue. The SUV then struck three pedestrians as it ran the red light, before crashing into another vehicle and causing a chain-reaction collision.

The alleged drunk driver who killed a 5-year-old boy in a Chicago car accident, was given the keys to the vehicle by police less than an hour before he slammed into a tree with the child sleeping in the back seat, the Breaking News Center reported.

Chicago Heights police took the man's girlfriend into custody for driving without a license before reportedly handing him the keys and allowing him to drive away in the 1998 Chevy Cavalier. Forty minutes later, he veered off Steger Road and slammed into a tree, killing the child.

Police say he had marijuana in his system and a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit. He was charged with felony driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless homicide.

Family and friends say the boy's mother had been the designated driver. Friends say the defendant had spent most of Sunday night drinking before being joined by his girlfriend and her son.

The couple left the party at a friend's house shortly after 2 a.m. The girlfriend was stopped at 2:35 a.m. after police report she made an improper turn without a signal. The officer arrested her for driving on a suspended license and handed the vehicle and her son over to the defendant, according to the Chicago Heights police chief.

Police report the vehicle was registered to him and he had a valid driver's license. The chief said the officer did not detect any signs that the man was intoxicated. He was about half a mile from his house, and just 2 1/2 miles from where police gave him the car, when he drove off the road and into the tree. The accident happened about 3:15 a.m., about the time the child's mother was being processed and released from custody.

The officer who made the stop had been on the force for two years.

WGN-TV reports on the story.

Click here to read the report from NBC Chicago.

A CTA bus hit a school building in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood on Monday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Twelve people were taken by ambulance to area hospitals as a result of the Chicago bus crash.

The CTA is stating that just after 4 p.m. a westbound number 66 bus was in an accident with another car and that after the initial collision the bus hit a building known as the Rowe-Clark Math and Science Academy. The bus vs. car accident occurred at 3645 W. Chicago Avenue and ten ambulances were called to the scene.

Two of the injured were in serious to critical condition. The cause of the bus accident has not yet been reported. It has also not been reported if students were ever in danger as a result of the collision.

Click here to read the story as reported by WGN.

Illinois auto accident attorneys from Abels & Annes have reached a $200,000 on behalf of a Bellwood, Illinois woman for injuries sustained in a Chicago DUI car crash. The collision took place on May 31, 2009 at approximately 3:15 a.m. Our client was driving westbound on I-290 near Racine, and the defendant was also westbound on I-290 near Racine. The at fault driver was racing and speeding, swerved out of his lane of traffic and struck the plaintiff’s vehicle. The force of the impact caused our client to lose control of her vehicle and hit a third car.

After causing the accident the DUI driver attempted to flee the scene of the collision but was apprehended. He was issued citations from the Illinois State Police for driving under the influence, driving too fast for conditions/failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to give aid or information. The criminal case is still pending in Cook County.

Our client had an immediate onset of neck pain with paresthesia in her right arm following the collision. She was transported by ambulance from the site of the collision to Stroger Hospital’s Emergency Department.

Due to ongoing and increasing pain, the plaintiff sought follow up medical care on the following day at the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department. She complained of worsening neck pain radiating into her right arm with tingling and numbness in her face and arm, bilateral shoulder pain, back pain and pelvic pain. A history was taken, she was examined and additional diagnostic tests were performed. A neck strain was diagnosed and she was prescribed more pain medication and muscle relaxants and told to follow up with a physician.

Her pain continued to worsen. On June 3, 2009 she followed up with her physician. She complained of neck pain with numbness, back pain, left leg and hip pain following the motor vehicle collision. The pain was so bad that it was interfering with her ability to take care of her everyday needs such as getting around, bathing and shopping. Her doctor prescribed more pain medication, muscle relaxants and recommended that she see a specialist.

Continue reading " Chicago injury lawyer settles DUI car accident case for $200,000 " »

Authorities say drunk driving was likely involved in a deadly Chicago car accident last Monday night on the Stevenson Expressway, ABC7 reported.

The fatal two-vehicle accident occurred in the outbound lanes near Throop when the driver of a pickup truck lost control, veered across three expressway lanes, and crashed into a car parked at the side of the freeway in an emergency area, killing the 56-year-old driver of that vehicle.

The drivers of both vehicles were transported to Stroger Hospital. The driver of the pickup truck was injured but is expected to recover. He is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to the Breaking News Center. He was detained by police but charges had not yet been filed. A 56-year-old South Mozart Street man was declared dead at 10:38 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

Fox Chicago reported that speed may also have been a factor in the crash and that charges were expected to be filed against the 28-year-old driver. Illinois State Police report the 1998 green Buick LeSabre had pulled into the breakdown area for an unknown reason and was waiting to enter the right lanes of southbound I-55 when it was struck by the pickup.

Witnesses report the driver of the 1991 GMC pickup was traveling in the left lane at a high rate of speed before losing control and driving across traffic. The truck collided with the driver's door of the LeSabre. FOX reports a blood test on the pickup's driver revealed the presence of alcohol in his system and that he admitted to drinking six beers earlier in the evening.

One in three fatal Illinois car accidents are caused by a drunk driver; drunk driving accidents claimed the lives of 362 motorists in Illinois in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A Chicago car crash on the Southwest Side has resulted in the death of a pedestrian and several others being injured, according to WGN News. The car accident occurred near Archer and Kedzie around 3:45 p.m. and involved 4 cars and three pedestrians. The pedestrian was reportedly run over by a van involved in the crash.

The pedestrian was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and dies a short time later. The others hurt were taken to Sinai, Stroger Hospital, and Saint Anthony Hospital. One of the victims seriously injured was a child.

The at fault driver arrested at the scene. Witnesses to the accident are saying that the van that caused the accident was going around 60 mph right before the crash and was weaving in and out of traffic, according to NBC News.

According to data compiled by the Illinois Department of Transportation, from 2004-2008, an average of 158 people died every year in Illinois pedestrian accidents. Most of these fatalities occurred in urban area. In those same years, on average 5,973 pedestrians were hurt.

The case of a man convicted of killing two teenagers in an Illinois car crash while text messaging and driving at 125 mph is a horrific example of the dangers of distracted driving.

Add in the fact that it was an Illinois State Trooper and it becomes clear that state and federal authorities continue to struggle in convincing motorists of the dangers of distracted driving. As we reported in March on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, the federal government is pushing for a nationwide ban on text messaging behind the wheel. Illinois passed its law, which went into effect Jan. 1, prohibiting all drivers from texting while driving and making it illegal to use hand-held cell phones in school zones and construction sites.

Hand held cell phone use by drivers has been prohibited within the City of Chicago since 2005.

The Illinois trooper pleaded guilty last month to reckless homicide and aggravated reckless driving counts, according to The Daily News Tribune. He was sentenced to 2 1/2 years of probation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that distracted driving is responsible for 1 in 4 traffic accidents nationwide. The agency has found that driver inattention in the three seconds before a crash is a leading cause of accidents and near-accidents and that drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to be involved in an accident.

Yet an investigation by the New York Times last year, in its series "Driven to Distraction" found that drivers largely ignore research that continues to show the dangers of cell phone use while driving. The series won a Pulitzer Prize earlier this month, journalism's highest honor.

A $24 million lawsuit has been filed against the trooper and Illinois State Police by the mother of the two teenagers killed in the crash.

The trooper was going 126 miles an hour while responding to a crash. Court documents show he was talking on his cell phone and e-mailing from the car computer. Ironically, the New York Times reported earlier this year that police and ambulance drivers may be among the most distracted drivers on the road. Modern emergency vehicles include sophisticated radios, on-board computers, navigation systems and cell phones and emergency responders are typically exempt from the laws prohibiting text messaging or cell phone use by drivers.

Continue reading " Trooper found guilty in fatal Illinois auto accident caused by distracted driving " »

Abogados de herida en Chicago de Abels & Annes les recomienda a todos que disfruten el Cinco de Mayo en una manera responsable y que pongan de su parte para prevenir accidentes en Chicago causados por conductores borrachos.

WJBC Radio informa que las agencias policiales locales estarán trabajando con el Departamento de Transportación de Illinois para aumentar patrullas dirigidas en conductores borrachos desde el miércoles hasta el fin de semana. Como informamos a principios de este año en nuestro blog de abogados de accidente en Chicago, un tercio de accidentes de carro en el Condado de Cook son relacionadas por manejar borracho.

En 2008, 362 fatalidades de tráfico en Illinois se trataban de un conductor borracho, según la Administración Nacional de la Seguridad de Tráfico en la carretera.

En los años recientes, Cinco de Mayo ha llegado a ser cada vez más una fiesta. Español para el "quinto de Mayo", la fiesta conmemora la victoria improbable del ejército Mexicano en la Batalla de Puebla, contra las Fuerzas Francesas el 5 de Mayo de 1862. El día ha llegado a ser un día de celebrar herencia y orgullo Mexicano. En los Estados Unidos, ha llegado a ser un día para celebrar a Americanos de la ascendencia Mexicana, de la misma manera que el día de San Patricio celebra la herencia Irlandesa.

El NHTSA proporciona planificación de acontecimiento seguro para la Comunidad Hispana.

Programas de prevención estan disponibles para conductors borrachos.

Si usted o un ser querido ha sido herido o ha sido matado en un accidente de carro en Illinois por un conductor borracho, contacte a los abogados de herida en Chicago de Abels & Annes por una consulta gratís y confidencial para hablar de sus derechos. Llame (866) 99-ABELS. No hay honorario a menos que gane.

The Chicago injury lawyers at Abels & Annes urge everyone to enjoy Cinco de Mayo in a responsible manner and to do your part in preventing Chicago car accidents caused by drunk driving.

WJBC Radio reports that local law enforcement agencies will be working with the Illinois Department of Transportation to increase patrols targeting drunk driving from Wednesday through the weekend. As we reported earlier this year on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, one-third of Cook County car accidents are linked to drunk driving.

In 2008, 362 Illinois traffic fatalities involved a drunk driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In recent years, Cinco de Mayo has increasingly become a party holiday. Spanish for the "fifth of May," the holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory at the Battle of Puebla, against French Forces on May 5, 1862. The day has become a day of celebrating Mexican heritage and pride. In the United States, it has become a day to celebrate Americans of Mexican ancestry, in much the same way St. Patrick's Day celebrates Irish heritage.

The Illinois Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report the deadliest time on the road is 3 to 6 a.m.

The NHTSA provides safe event planning for the Hispanic Community, available by clicking here.

Drunk driving prevention programming is available by clicking here.

Continue reading " Help prevent Chicago car accidents; celebrate Cinco de Mayo responsibly " »

A Chicago area hit & run pedestrian accident has seriously injured a construction worker in the Chicago area, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center. The accident took place in Porter County, Indiana on westbound Interstate 94.

The construction worker injured on the job was rushed to a hospital in Valparaiso, and later helicoptered to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. The worker is in critical condition and is having head and leg surgeries.

The victim was filling cracks in a well marked construction area when the defendant made an illegal U-turn and hit him, and then carried the worker for over 30 feet before he was thrown off the car.

The defendant, an East Chicago resident, was only caught because his mother called police the next morning after she saw that his car appeared to have been involved in an accident. When the Illinois State Police arrived at the driver's home, he was passed out on the couch. He admitted to police he had drank a lot and then drove home. He said he thought he had hit a construction barrel in the work zone, not realizing he had hit a person.

As police interviewed the defendant, he smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. He was taken to a hospital for a blood draw, and his BAC level was 0.12. The driver has been charged with leaving the scene of an injury accident and DUI.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.