A series of car accidents around Chicago have been in the news lately. Unfortunately, several of these accidents have resulted in fatalities.
In a hit-and-run accident in Chicago’s northern suburbs, a bicyclist was killed by an emergency medical technician, who fled the scene and did not report the accident. 53-year-old Ronald Bougan was struck and killed on Monday, November 5, 2012, as he was bicycling. On Friday, November 9, 2012, Kristian Hernandez was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident, and failing to report it. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Cook County police traced the car involved (and the suspect) through the body shop where Hernandez took it for repairs. This is probably the most common way hit-and-run accidents are traced; police comb garages for minor repairs (bumper fixes, paint jobs, etc.) that serve to hide damning evidence. Kristian Hernandez is being held on $100,000 bond.
Early on Saturday, November 10, 2012, a sport utility vehicle crashed into a pickup truck on the Dan Ryan Expressway near 95th Street, killing the pickup truck’s driver. Charges were filed against the SUV’s driver, Tyrone Allen Stokes; he stands accused of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, resulting in the death of Phillip Briner. At the scene of the accident, state troopers administers standard field sobriety tests to Stokes; he blew a 0.106, well above the legal limit of 0.08 blood alcohol content. The crash happened at about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, when Stokes’s 2002 GMC crossed from the far-right to the far-left lane and collided with Briner’s 1994 Chevrolet truck; the vehicles hit the far-left wall, crossed back through traffic, hit the right side wall, and finally stopped.
Briner, who was on his way home from his shift at The Peninsula Chicago hotel in downtown Chicago, was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Stokes, who was uninjured in the crash, is being held in lieu of $450,000 bail at Cook County Court.
A third accident, in the South Side neighborhood of Grand Boulevard, also happened early Saturday, November 10, 2012. In this incident, an 18-year-old woman hit a police squad car. Diamonde McNeal, who received minor injuries in the crash, ran a red light at the intersection of 47th and LaSalle streets, around 1:40 Saturday morning. A squad car carrying two police officers had entered the intersection, and was struck by McNeal’s Kia in the front driver side. One officer was treated at the scene, the other was brought to Mercy Hospital with minor injuries for observation.
McNeal’s car carried four other young women; two of whom were described as “hostile” to police and taken into custody. McNeal was taken to the hospital for whiplash and soft-tissue wounds (as was one of officers). McNeal was issued several tickets: running a red light, negligent driving, driving without insurance, and a municipal violation for damage to city property. She’s due in traffic court on December 5, 2012. Police have said no alcohol or drugs were involved.
If you have been injured in a car accident, contact Mike Agruss Law, for a free consultation. We are a Chicago injury law firm representing individuals and families who have suffered an injury or loss due to an accident. Mike Agruss Law, will handle your personal injury case quickly, will advise you every step of the way, and will not hesitate to go to trial for you.
Lastly, Mike Agruss Law, does not get paid attorney’s fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. Therefore, you have nothing to risk when you hire us–just the opportunity to seek justice.
