Chicago Car Accident Attorney Blog

Jeffery McCallum, 25, of the 3200 block of west Warren Blvd., was issued several citations after the behicek he was driving plowed into the Duwell Fish Company restaurant.

McCallum was cited for negligent driving, failure to reduce speed, not having insurance and another drivers license violation.

Shortly after midnight on Thursday morning, McCallum was driving a '98 Lincoln headed south on Pulaski when he was attempting to turn at 5th Ave. McCallum lost control of his car and hit a brick column which was supporting the roof at the restaurant.

Harrison District polioce say that speed was probably an issue and the he "probably took the turn too fast.

McCallum was not under the influence. He was taken to Mt. Sinai Medical center with a possible broken arm. McCallum's passenger was taken to Cook County Hospital for observation.

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Several times weekly, Chicago Police Officer Steve shoups parks his patrol carl at the intersection of Belden and Lincoln Park West waiting for someone to blow a stop sign.

He'll stop the offender and hand them a ticket , but not before applynig a sticker to it that reads "REMEMBER MAYA! Maya was killed by a driver who failed to stop at a stop sign and yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. STOP AT STOP SIGNS! YIELD TO PEOPLE IN CROSSWALKS!"

It happened on May 20, 2006. Maya, who was just four-years-old, was with her family when they were crossing Lincoln Park West walking westbound from the Zoo, when a Lexus, which was headed northbound, blew the stop sign

Continue reading "Chicago officer keeps memory alive" »

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A multi car accident on Monday night resulted in injury to five people.

The accident involved three vehicles including two SUVs. The accident happened near Pulaski and Archer on the Chicago's southwest side.

Three of the victims were listed in critical condition and two were listed in fair condition. All were taken to nearby area hospitals.

No details about the accident were available.

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On Sunday two Chicago offers were responding to a call of a person, when their squad car collided with another vehicle.

The collision occured near Irving Park and Kimball. None of the injuries the officers suffered were life threatening. The driver of the other car was taken by ambulance to an area hospital. Their condition is uknown.

No citations were issued.

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On May 14, Therea Perez was with her granddaughter when she was struck by a hit-and-run driver at Montrose and Kedzie in Chicago.

Authorities are looking to the public for help by releasing a surveillance video that caught the driver. They're hoping someone might recognize the driver.

Ms. Perez who was walking with her granddaughter from Our Lady of Mercy Church says that they were crossing Montrose and Kedzie. Ms. Perez said she felt that her and her granddaugher were in danger, but did not see the car coming. "All I could think of is my granddaugher is going to get hit I just pushed her forward, but he got me and it pushed me back."

"The glasses fell off my grandma's ear...They were on the street and I told them to pick it up because I couldn't," said Damary Rodriguez.

"All I rememeber seeing is white cloud. In my thoughts, in my head is "I'm dead.' I'm not going to make this. Then when I moved to the side and I saw her crawling toward me, 'grandma, grandma' she said. I said 'Im still alive,'" said Perez.

"At that point a vehicle that was turning off of Kedzie onto westbound Montrose sturck them in the crosswalk, did not stop, continued on without stopping to render aid or give information," said Elliott Musial, Chicago Police Department.

Police say the driver was driving a white SUV. Ms. Perez's family found the surveillance camera on a store located near the accident site. The owner agreed to save the video for authorities.

Ms. Perez expects that she would be incapacitated for six full weeks. Her granddaugher is there to help.

Theresa Perez worries that the driver of the vehichle could be so reckless that they would do it again. She wonders how someone can hit a child and a grandmother and then just dirve off.

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The family of a salemsan killed in a high-speed crash was awarded $13.7 million by a Chicago jury.

Roger Czapski, 22, was working as a car saleman for BMW on August 4, 2004, when Christopher Maher, 22 came into his dealership to test drive a 2003 BWM 5301i sedan. Czapski was in the front passenger seat and two of Maher's friends were in the back.

Maher, was driving the car at a speed of approximately 90 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone, when the car clipped another vehicle and ran into a light pole. The front passenger side of the car took the brunt of the impact killing Czapski. Maher and his friends survied the crash but suffered serious injuries.

Maher, who pled guilty in 2005 to aggravated speeding received one year probation and 30 days of community service at the Cook County medical examiner's office. Czapski denied liability in the wronful death lawsuit.

Continue reading "Chicago jury awards $13.7 million in wrongful death lawsuit" »

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Authorities said a pedestrian was was serously injured at the intersectino of LaSalle St and Burton place around 9 am when they were hit by a vehicle.

According to the Chicago Fire Dept., the pedestrian was taken to Northwestern Hospital. suffering from serious injuries. No names have been released.

Investigator from the Major Accidents investigations Unit were investigating the accident. No other details are available.

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Sharon Shoudis was driving her car when she was turing onto Harlem Ave. A truck going in the opposite direction drove right on top of her car.

Shoudis said she saw the headlights and she started screaming. The truck drove on top of Shoudis' car smashing the hood of the car and cracking the front windshield.

Fortunately, both drivers walked away from the accident without any injuries.

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Emma Stanger, 20, lost control of her car and crashed into the median on I-55.

According to Illinois State Police Sgt. Mike Karpinski, Stanger was driving along 1-55 when she lost control of the car she was driving and hit the I-55 median wall around 2:50 am on Sunday. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Stanger, grew up in Worthington, Ohio, attended the Thomas Wortington High School where she was a star swimmer and water polo player.

Stanger was accepted to University of Chicago were she was majoring in chemistry. She had made the dean's list and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

Stanger is survived by her sister Bess, 18, brother Dub ,15 and her father, Phil Stanger, a Worthing lawyer.

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A Chicago Department of Transportation worker was struck and killed early Tuesday morning near the 3300 block of East 100th St.

The worker, a CDOT 10 year veteran, was unloading materials for a scheduled road project, when a car, swerving to avoid hitting another car, hit the worker.

According to police, the driver of the car was issued citations for negligence, striking a pedestrian in a roadway and damage to city property.

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Sylvio Clicquot 29, was killed in an early morning rollover accident on 79th st in Chicago.

According to Chicago Police, Clicquot ran a red light through the intersection, then rear-ended another car. Clicquot's car hit a concrete barrier which caused it to flip and eventually resting on roof of the car. Clicquot was pronounced dead on the scene. An autopsy revealed that he died of suffocation.

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Barbara Lee of Illinois faces sentencing today in Kenosha coutny for the death of cyclist Gordon Klefield.

Lee, while driving under the influence, struck and killed Kleifield last year in Wilmot and then left the scene of the accident.

Authorities revoked Lee's licence at the time of the crash. Lee had four prior drunk driving convictions on her record.

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Mateo Ortiz, 38, of Chicago, was sentenced to 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to DUI charges.

On Aug 2, Mateo struck and injured a pedestrian in Norridge, IL. Another motorist who witnessed the accident, blocked Ortiz's car then reached through the windows and removed the keys from the ignition.

Ortiz pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated DUI. He struck a 63 year old man who was walking in the 7200 block of Forest Preserve Blvd. The victim sustained a broken leg. According to authorities, Ortiz, at the time of the accident, was wanted on four other DUI arrest warrants. Ortiz, who is an undocumented immigrant, was using aliases. This made it difficult for authorities to locate Ortiz and to serve the warrants

In response to Ortiz's plea for leniency, Judge Thomas Fecarotta Jr., said "You're a menace to soceity." At the time of the accident, Ortiz's blood alcohol level was 0.18, more than two times the legal limitl.

According to Judge Fecarotta, Ortiz could be deported upon his release from prison.

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According to authorities, the bad weather on Saturday was to blame for a two car accident killing one of the drivers. The victim, a woman, was driving in the southbound lanes of the Stevenson Expressway near west suburban Woodridge, IL.

Due to the conditions of the road, she lost control of her car, hitting the concrete median. The car richocheted off the wall and back into traffic. The car was then struck by another vehicle which sustained heavy damage.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove where she was pronounced dead about an hour after the accident.

The identity of the the dead woman is being withheld and the crash remains under investigation.

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Michael J. Adams, 18, of Chicago, was killed late Wednesday after causing a multi-car accident when he entered the Edens Expressway in the wrong direction.

According to Master Sgt. Todd Borisy of the Illinois State Police, Adams was headed southbound in the northbound lanes of the Edens Expressway. He entered the expressway at Touhy Avenue, drove approximately one mile and crashed head-on with an unidentified driver from Wilmette. The accident occurred around 11:30 p.m.

Adam's car then ricocheted off that car and crashed into another vehicle driven by an unidentified woman from Niles. The driver from Wilmette was taken to a local hospital with a broken tail bone. The Niles driver was uninjured and refused treatment by paramedics.

During the investigation, the northbound lanes of the Edens expressway were closed.

According to Borisy, authorities received about six phones calls from motorists who had seen Adams driving in the wrong direction. Authorities still do not know why Adams was driving in the wrong direction. It does not appear he was under the influence.

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On November , 2006, Patricia Kubitschek was a passenger in Debra Soucy-Donze's 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee. They were approaching the intersection at State Roue 13 in Clair County when Michael Noggle, who was driving his 1998 Chevrolet collided with them.

Kubitschek filed a lawsuit against Noggle, Safeco and State Farm insurance companies. The lawsuit alleges that Kubitschek was severly injured in the accident and the insurance companies were denying payment of her resulting medical treatment.

Kubitschek claims that she suffered a disability, disfigurement and pain and suffering. Her medical bills totaled more than $5,000 and she lost income as a result of the accident.

According to the complaint, Noggle was driving faster than the posted speed limit. He failed to slow down to avoid the collision and failed to keep a lookout. He was also intoxicated and under the influence of drugs.

Soucy-Donze was covered by State Farm Mutual and Kubitschek was covered by Safeco Insurance Company. Both carriers promised Kubitschek that they would cover her damages after the accident. Noggle was uninsured.

Both companies were notified of Kubitschek's intention of filing a claim under the uninsured motorist coverage and her demand for arbitration.

The lawsuit seeks a judgment in excess of $50,000 plus costs.

Kubitschek is also seeking an order which will compel both insurance companies to arbitrate her claim under the uninsured motorist coverage portion of the two policies, a judgment in her favor and other compensation the court feels is appropriate.

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Eight year-old Troy Evers of Roselle, Illinois was killed on Saturday evening when the SUV he was riding in struck a building in the Forest Glen neighborhood in Chicago.

Also injured in the accident were Evers 12-year-old brother and his uncle. The uncle, who was the driver of the SUV, was taken to Swedish Covenant Hospital. Evers brother was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park ridge. The police have not released their identities.

While driving the SUV, the uncle crossed the center line and crashed into a building located at 4550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., in Chicago. He is now in police custody and expected to be charged. Both children were in the back seat when the accident occurred.

The Chicago Police Major Accident Unvestigation Unit is investigating the accident.

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From Thursday to Saturday of last week, Chicago Fire Department trucks have been involved in three accidents. It appears that local drivers are not pulling over when they see a fire truck and hear the sirens.

On Saturday morning around 10 a.m., a woman ran into a firetruck. She heard the truck, but did not know what direction it was coming in. She was the only one who did not stop in the intersection.

On Friday, a drunk driver, was involved in an accident with another fire truck at the intersection of Cermak Rd and Hoyne Ave around 8:15 p.m. when the fire truck was responding to a fire. The driver of the vehicle was taken to an area hospital.

On Thursday, a woman driving a car did not yield to a fire truck causing the fire truck to crash into a building located at Division and Wells after hitting the car.

According to the US Fire Association, there re almost 16,000 collisions every year. These collisions involve fire department emergency vehicles either responding to or returning from a call.

Ilinois' Rule of the Road, require driver's to yield to emergency response vehicles and to pull over to the right side of road.

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Amanda Jahn, 27 and her children Ryan 3 and Kaitlyn, 11 months were killed on Thursday night by a drunk driver, according to police.

Jahn was traveling south on Illinois Highway 47 near Morris, when Ann Marie Getz, 43, was driving west on Garder Rd. Getz ran a stop sign, crashing into Jahns' vehicle.

Getz of Streator, Illinois has been charged with three counts of aggravated DUI. A judge ordered her held in lieu of $1 million bail. A background check on Getz revealed that she has had prior criminal charges including alcohol related violations. Grundy County Sheriff Tery Marketti declined to provide details about Getz' prior record.

"This was so senseless." Marketti said. "The [driver] shouldn't have been behind the wheel. She wiped out an entire family."

Getz, who was taken to Morris Hospital with non-life threatening injuries will be released next week. Upon her release she will immediately be taken to jail.

Amanda Jahn was pronounced dead at the accident scene. She was trapped inside her vehicle. Her two children were both thrown from the car. They were in car seats. The impact of the accident sent Jahn's car spinning into a nearbar cornfield.

Jahn's husband was notified of the accident. Markettis says he is "devastated." Ryan and Kailtyn were the couple's only children.

"This certainly isn't an easy situation for us to handle-we all have children too," Marketti said. "It hits home when you're dealing with the deaths of two small children."

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A woman, whose identity was not available, was taken to St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center in Dyer, Indiana after the vehicle she was driving struck two St. John, Indiana police cars on Wednesday.

The St. John officers were on US 41 directing traffic around an accident involving a pick-up truck and a semi truck. Their squad cars were partially blocking the southbound lanes. The woman plowed into the side of one of the squads and continued driving another 100 to 200 feet. She then read-ended the second squad car. According to police, both squad cars had their emergency lights on. One of the police offiers tried to wave the woman away from the accident just prior to her hitting the first car.

She apparently was driving drunk. Information on whether she had been officially charged was not available.

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Marcel Martinez-Ayala, 28 of Carpentersville, was killed early Saturday morning riding in a car that crashed into a house in Elgin, Illinois.

Ayala, was pronounced dead at Sherman Hospital in Elgin. He was a front seat passenger. The driver of the car was also taken to Sherman Hospital with non-life threatening injuries according to Elgin police.

Police arrived at the accident scene shortly before 1:30 a.m. Police said a 1993 Nissan Altima was driving westbound on Chicago street, when it jumped the curb and struck the house located at 636 E. Chicago and stopped outside the residence at 622 E. Chicago.

The porch on the front of the house was damaged in the crash and the house was deemed uninhabitable. No one was home at the time of the crash.

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A Chicago Fire Department ambulance, responding to a call, crashed into another vehicle at the intersection of Addison and Menard on Friday morning. Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the accident scene at 9:02 am. The Fire Department personnel called for an Emergency Medical Services Plan 1, which is a 5 ambulance response.

Edward Martinez, a witness to the accident, described what happened. He said an ambulance was headed east on Addison Street with it's lights and sirens going. A mid-size sedan went into the intersection as the ambulance was going through it. The sedan was struck by the ambulance on the front driver's side. The impact of the crash sent the car spinning and it rolled over onto its roof. It stopped at the crosswalk at the south edge of the intersection. Another vehicle collided with the sedan.

Commander Will Knight a spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department said that three people were taken to area hopsitals in serious condition. Five other people injured in the accident and in stable condition, were also taken to area hospitals.

Officer Laura Kubiak with the Chicago Police Department's Office of News Affairs, did confirm that the accident took place and that it did involve an ambulance from the Chicago Fire Department. She would not affirm the statement given by the witness Martinez.

Office Kubiak stated that it could take some time to investigate the accident and complete a report because of the number of peole involved.

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The driver of a car was in critical condition Sunday after running into a semi and becoming pinned underneath the truck. The accident happened at 73rd St and South Cicero Avenue on the Southwest side Sunday at around 3:25 am.

According to Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford, a Nissan was heading southbound on Cicero at a high rate of speed. The semi, a frame type truck, was turning onto Cicero. The car ran into the semi and became pinned.

Bedford Park and Chicago fire crews were dispatched to the accident scene. The driver of the car was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn by a Chicago Fire Department ambulance.

Langford said it was a wonder that the driver was alive at all judging by the wreckage of the car.

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A busy intersection in the Old Town neighborhood was closed early Wednesday after a car crashed into the Starbucks Coffee at North and wells.

The accident occurred when two cars collided and one was sent into the Starbucks store. Emergency crews arrived on the scene around 5:30 am. Both drivers were taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The Starbucks at North Ave. and Wells St., is located in the same complex as Piper's Alley and the Second City Comedy Club. The coffeehouse is open 24 hours. Damage was extensive to the side of the building facing Wells sS. At least two of the window frames were damaged, the windows were shattered and the concrete below the shattered windows was mangled.

Because the Starbucks is opened 24 hours, is it always busy. Fortunately no one inside the store was injured.

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Is there a benefit to higher gas prices? While nobody likes to spend more for a gallon of gas, more drivers are slowing down and trying to conserve as much gas as possible. And while fewer speeding tickets is a result, it may also result in fewer accidents. The logic behind this thinking is that when people drive at a slower speed, they are in more control of their vehicle and this allow the dirver to react better and faster to those around them.

The slower speeds are not just safer for drivers, it is safer for pedestrian, bikers, car passengers and anyone or anything else that could come in contact with a car. Higher gas prices also mean that fewer people are driving. Fewer cars on the road means fewer accidents.

Does higher gas pricing mean totally safe roads? Of course not. Driving can still be dangerous. Taking your eyes off the road or driving recklessly, at any speed can be extremely dangerous. Slow down, obey traffic signs, and pay attention to what is going on around you. Stay off the phone, put away the makeup and read your newspaper at your desk. While it may not mean that you will never have an accident, it can certainly lower the chances of getting into one.

No one is happy about paying more for gas, but it is nice to know that there is at least one benefit.

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Matt Banga, 28, of North Mason Ave, died of craniocerebral injuries after crashing his car into a building at the 5400 of Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The crash occurred around 1:40 am. According to the autopsy the injury was the result of a car striking a fixed object.

Banga was taken to Lutheran General Hospital after the accident., but was pronounced deat at Advocate Illlionois Masonic Medical Center at 2:11 am. The Cook County Medical examiner ruled Banga's death an accident.

The Chicago Police Department Major Accident Investigation Unit is investigating the accident.

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A drunk driver injured at several people in a two car accident on Sunday night. The accident occurred at 7:48 pm at 1400 N. Humboldt Dr., Chicago, according to Chicagp Police News Affairs Office John Mirabelli.

An EMS Plan 1 response was prompted by the crash. This response, autmotically disptaches five ambulances to the scene of the accident.

The injured were taken to various area hospitals. One was listed in critical condition at John H. stroger Hospital. Shakespeare District Police said six or seven people were injured in the accident, however, none of them sustained life-threatening injuries.

One of the injured was the drunk driver. He crossed the center line and struck an oncoming car. According to police the drunk driver is going to be charged with a DUI.

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A 31 year old construction worker was struck by a vehicle near Willlow and Shermer Rds in Northbrook. He was taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. His injuries were not considered to be life threatening.

Authorities ticketed the driver of the car for failure to exercise caution.

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LaSalle County Sheriff's Department reported that a school bus which was carrying 21 students crashed with a pickup truck on Tuesday, causing the bus to flip over. The accident occurred in the Northville area around 10:00 a.m.

The crash, which occurred in the north-central part of the state, resulted in several injuries. The bus rolled onto its side and the truck caught fire.

The injury victims were taken to Valley West Community Hospital and Ottawa Regional Hospital. No of the injuries sustained appeared to be life threatening.

It is unknown how many people were injured. Authorities are currently investigating the accident to try and determine how it happened.

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Jade Swisher, a former Illinois University Carbondale student remains in a coma after being struck by a car while crossing a street with friends on Saturday around 2am.

Friends of Swisher have set up a fund at Old National Bank in Carbondale to cover his medical expenses from his hospitalization. Aynjell, Martens, a friend of Swisher’s described him as a “very caring guy. He would do anything for anyone.” Martens said the fund was set up so friends could return that kindness by helping the family pay the bills.

Donation can be mailed or taken to Old National Bank, 509 S. University, Carbondale, IL and designated to the Jade Swisher Benefit Fund.

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John Koch, 31 of Chicago recalls “being in the air and thinking while I was in the air that I had been hit by a car. I felt my face scrape across the ground and I saw the car leaving.”
Koch and his brothers Fritz and Jake were about a block from Fritz’s apartment walking with friends when they were struck by a car at South Poplar and West College streets in Carbondale on Sunday around 2 a.m.

The driver of the car that hit them was identified as Dalevir S. Pannu, 21, who was driving a silver Ford Mustang. Pannu left the accident. His vehicle was located about 10 minutes later in the 800 block of west Freeman Street.

Pannu was charged with 10 counts of aggravated driving under the influence causing bodily harm, one count of accident causing injury or death, and five counts of aggravated reckless driving causing bodily harm, all class 4 felonies. Pannu was in Carbondale attending medical conferences. He is a Canadian citizen and is enrolled in medical school in the Carribean.
Pannu is being represented by Paul Christenson, a Murphysboro attorney. Christenson said blood alcohol results have not been returned, and the allegation that Pannu was driving under the influence accounts for at least five of the 16 charges.

To read the full article click here

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Katie McGuire, 20, of Chicago, IL was returning home on Monday to register to vote. She was killed in a car crash on 1-57 before she reached home.

McGuire was traveling north on 1-57. According to police she became distracted trying to locate her phone inside the car. McGuire’s car veered onto the right shoulder of 1-57. McGuire attempted to get her car back in her lane, but over corrected. Her car then went into the southbound lane. According to Illinois State Police, McGuire’s car collided with a care and a semi-trailer traveling in the opposite direction.

The accident occurred at 11:08 pm. McGuire was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Danielle Johnson, 21, a passenger in McGuire’s car was seriously injured and taken to Riverside Healthcare in Kankakee, IL . The drivers of the other vehicles in the accident were not injured.

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According to a journal published by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, the distraction of using a cell phone while driving causes approximately 2,600 deaths and 333,000 injuries in the US every year.

The reason is now obvious:

A person driving and talking on cell phones are 18 percent slower when reacting brake lights While these drivers kept a 12 percent greater following distance, it also took them 17 percent longer to regain the speed they lost when they braked.

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Christopher Sodaro, of 4600 block of South Francisco Ave, was pronounced dead at Mt. Sinai Hospital on Monday after someone he got into a car accident with, grabbed and dragged him alongside their vehicle. The suspect fled the scene of the accident.

According to Chicago Police, Sodaro was in a car going south in the 2400 block of South Hamlin, when a westbound car struck his. Sodaro got out of his car and confronted the other driver. They both flashed gang signs at one another. Another person in the car with the other driver, grabbed Sodaro and got into the car and drove off dragging him alongside the car.

As of Monday evening no one was in custody and no vehicle description was available.

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After investigating an accident that resulted in the death of three people 25 years ago, DuPage County and Villa Park authorities finally had enough evidence to issue an arrest warrant for Roger Walburg, 51 of Oklahoma City.

On June 6, 1980 Walburg was the driver of a car that went through a railroad crossing resulting in a car-train cash that killed his 3 passengers. Walburg fled 25 years ago and was living under the alias Jason Bowling.

Walburg appeared in DuPage Court on Friday after waiving extradition. Bail was set at $1 million for violation of his bond. Walburg was charged with reckless homicide in the 1980 crash.

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A Herscher High School Student was identified by Kankakee County Coroner Bob Gessner as the driver killed in a three car collision early Thursday on Illinois Route 17.

Ian Michael Bogusch,18, son of John and Brenda Bogusch of Kankakee was pronounced dead at Riverside Medical Center’s Emergency room shortly after the accident. A 16 year old passenger was also in the car, but was not identified. He was in fair condition at Riverside. Gessner noted that the boys are brothers.

Both teens were wearing seatbelts and there were no traffic miscues that caused the accident.
Bogusch was westbound on Illinois 17 when he was read-ended by a pick-up truck being driven by Michael L. Labit, 31 of Kankakee. Labit was not injured according to police.

Bogusch’s van was forced into oncoming traffic and was struck by a car driven by 80 year old Evelyn Hanlin of Campus.

Hanlin was taken to Riverside Medical Center for treatment. Her condition was not known as of Thursday afternoon

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On January 4, 2008, the victim, was driving westbound on Joe Orr Rd., when the defendant driver crossed the center line and struck the victim head on. Police were called to the scene of the accident and the defendant driver was issued a ticket for causing the accident and failing to reduce speed.

The victim experienced an immediate onset of neck pain, but did not seek treatment for several weeks. Subsequently, the victim was diagnosed with a cervical herniated disk. The victim underwent physical therapy as prescribed by his doctor. The victim’s medical bills totaled $18,000.

Upon completion of the victim’s treatment the Law Offices of Donald W. Fohrman & Associates, Ltd., attempted to settle the case with the insurance company. The initial offer on the case was $23,000. The entire policy of $100,000 the at fault driver was demanded. Because the insurance company refused to increase their offer both parties agreed to arbitrate the case with a retired judge to avoid years of litigation.

After presenting the case to the arbitrator, Donald W. Fohrman & Associates, Ltd., was able to secure a result of $75,000.00 for the victim. We tripled the insurance company offer and the case was resolved within nine months of the accident.

It is not uncommon for insurance companies to offer the lowest compensation possible. The adjuster has an obligation to the insurance company to pay out as little as possible on a claim. However, only an experienced attorney can best determine the true value of a claim.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, contact the Law Offices of Donald W. Fohrman & Associates, Ltd., at 800-437-2571 and speak with experienced personal injuryattorney.

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On Wednesday, the Chicago City Council passed a proposed ban on texting while driving. The final vote is scheduled for the Oct 8, city council meeting. If approved, the ordinance will take effect later this month.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White spoke in favor of the ban and said he is pushing a statewide ban on texting while driving. “I believe that when you are texting you have your eyes off the wheel, you’re concerned about your sentence structure, you’re concerned about your spelling and at the same time you have to maintain master of the wheel,” White told the Chicago City Council. “We don’t believe you can do all those things and yet get from point A to point B in a safe and responsible manner.”

The proposal was sponsored by Ald. Edward Burke who also raised the possibility of banning reading or applying eye-make-up while driving

To read the complete article click here

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On Friday Sept. 26, Dennis Hernandez, a truck driver for Bret Michaels’ Rock of Love reality show, was driving a truck full of equipment West through Frankfurt Illinois when he allegedly fell asleep at the wheel. Hernandez lost control of the of the truck and crashed into a sports utility vehicle and pick-up truck. Two women were killed and two other people are in serious condition.

Out of respect for the accident victims, Michaels has requested that filming of the reality show be suspended. “ Bret Michaels has requested that his participation in the production of the series be temporarily suspended as he attempts to reach out to the families of the victims. Traveling separately, Mr. Michaels had left Illinois early Friday morning and was not near the scene of the accident,” said a spokesperson from US TV channel VH1.

Michaels adds, “As a father of two, I cannot even imagine what the families must be going through at this time. I will make every attempt to reach out to them to let them know that my heart and prayers are with them during their grief.”

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A Granite City man died as a result of his injuries sustained in a car accident last night at the intersection of Illinois 3 and Rock Road.

The driver of the car that crashed, Brian M. Withers, 44, of Granite City, died from a blunt head trauma injury.

A deputy from the Madison County Cororner’s office pronounced Mr. Withers dead at the scene of the car accident at 6:15p.m. At the time of the accident he was driving 1998 Ford Mustang headed south on Illinois 3.

He was approaching Rock Road. When he was preparing to turn right, he collided with Joseph Cangelosi 30, of Jerseyville who was driving a 2004 GMC Sierra pickup. Wither’s car hit the front of a tractor trailer which was stopped at the light on Rock Road.

Cangelosi suffered minor injuries.

The Madison County police has determined that, based on the indications at the scene of the accident, that Mr. Withers had been at fault.

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A Carrollton teen is in serious condition in a car crash with a cow in Greene County according to Illinois State Police.

The teen -- Cayla M. Davis, 17 -- was taken by ambulance to Boyd Memorial Hospital. The car crash took place on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 7:43 p.m. Davis is in serious condition, police said.

Illinois State Police report that Davis was driving south on Highway 67 about three miles north of Carrollton an oncoming car flashed its headlights. Davis she slowed down to about 35 mph. After reducing her speed she it hit something in the road, police said.

The cow found its way onto Highway 67. The cow was removed before police could get to the accident. The owner of the cow has not been found.

Davis was wearing her seatbelt.

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An Arlington Heights man was killed by a Jeep on Saturday night as he walked across a busy commercial strip near his home.

At about 8:20 pm Arthur Tidd, 86 was walking across Algonquin Road when he was struck by a westbound 2000 Jeep Wrangler driven by a 32 year old Schaumburg man. Commander Michael Miljan said Mr. Tidd was hit just east of Marketplace Drive, an access road into the Rolling Meadows Wal-Mart. There is no pedestrian crosswalk there.

Arlington Heights police are looking for witnesses to the accident. The driver of the vehicle that hit Mr. Tidd, stopped after the crash. No citations were issued.

Mr. Tidd was taken by ambulance to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights where he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

An expert in accident reconstruction has been assigned to investigate the accident. Cmdr. Miljan states there are no indications that drugs or alcohol played a part in the accident.

Police are asking anyone who was the accident to call 847-368-5300.

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