Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
Police have reported that a Tuesday night collision that left a pedestrian dead and three others injured resulted after they were following a young driver who ran multiple stop signs. The driver, a 17-year-old male from Hazel Crest, Illinois, reportedly had marijuana in his system at the time of the fatal crash and police had attempted to pull him over before the crash occurred.
The teen was driving near 83rd Street and Blackstone Avenue on Tuesday night and may have been under the influence of drugs when he reportedly ran six stop signs before causing a crash with another car. The impact from the collision pushed the teen’s vehicle towards a group of pedestrians where the car hit three people, killing one and injuring the other two. The driver of the second car also was injured and remained at the scene of the crash until help arrived but the teen allegedly panicked, climbed out of a window in his car, and ran away on foot. Police found the young man a short while later as he hit in a yard approximately one block from the site of the collision.
The teen was apprehended and a blood test revealed the presence of marijuana in his system, leading to charges of reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, and leaving the scene of an accident. Police have stated that the teen did not possess a driver’s license and therefore was not authorized to drive.
Adding to this crash may have been police involvement and their attempt to stop the teen before a collision occurred. Officers first noticed the young man ignoring stop signs and attempted to pull over the driver, limiting the threat he posed to others on the road. Yet the man did not stop and continued to drive, reportedly running more stop signs until the collisions occurred. Police have stated that there was not an active pursuit and that their actions did not contribute to the collision with the officer on the scene turning off his lights as the teen reportedly sped off to avoid apprehension.
Adding to the tragic nature of this crash was the fact that the victim, a 32-year-old Chicago resident, was out with a couple of friends to celebrate his birthday.
Illinois law makes it very clear that every driver must be properly licensed before they are allowed to drive a vehicle and that no driver is allowed to operate a car under the influence of an intoxicating substance, including marijuana. Yet the allegations against the young driver in this case suggests that he did both, possibly leading to his actions of ignoring stop signs which in turn caused a collision that left a man dead. But the young man reportedly continued to break the law as he fled from the scene of a collision that resulted in serious bodily injury or death, a felony in Illinois, and hid from officers approximately one block from the scene. This may have compounded the severity of the injuries caused by the crash and certainly lead to increased criminal allegations against the young driver.
What the teen in this crash may not realize is that his actions, if proven to be true, may subject him not only to criminal penalties but also to a civil claim for monetary damages by those who suffered harm. One of the surviving victims in this crash sustained serious hip and pelvic injuries while the conditions of the other two survivors were not clear. Any or all of those individuals make seek to recover financially for their losses against the driver as may the surviving family members of the man who was killed.
If you have been hurt by the actions of a driver under the influence of drugs, call the Chicago car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. today for a free telephone consultation. We have a lawyer standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call at (312) 924-7575 or toll free at (855) 529-2442. At Abels & Annes, P.C., there is never an obligation associated with the free telephone consultation and we will never charge you a fee unless we make a recovery on your behalf. Call us today and let us help you understand your legal rights after an accident.
Prior Blog Entries:
Suspected Drunk Driver Kills Passenger in Oak Brook, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published September 26, 2013.
Driver With Blood Alcohol 3 Times Legal Limit Causes Crash, Kills Child, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published September 24, 2013.
Resources:
17-year-old tests positive for marijuana after crash that killed pedestrian on 32nd birthday, by Steve Schmadeke and Rosemary Regina Sobol, Chicago Tribune, published September 28, 2013.