2 Dead, 4 Critically Hurt In Northwest Side Crash
Updated 05/22/11 - 2:17 p.m.
CHICAGO (STMW) -- A motorist blew a red light and collided with another car carrying a man and a woman who were killed. Four others were critically injured in the Northwest Side crash Sunday morning.
The man was identified as Franciszek Opiela, of 7818 W. Sunset Dr. in Elmwood Park who was pronounced dead at 6:17 a.m. at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
Teresa Cygan, of 110 Cambridge Ave. in Streamwood, was pronounced dead at 6:08 a.m. at the same hospital, according to the medical examiner's office. Both were 57.
Police were unclear as to their relationship Sunday afternoon.
The wreck occurred at 5:18 a.m. in the 4300 block of West Diversey Avenue, according to police News Affairs Officer Darryl Baety.
A Honda Civic was traveling north on Kostner Avenue when the driver disregarded the red traffic signal and collided with a Hyundai Elantra what was westbound on Diversey , according to a Grand Central District police captain.
The collision caused both cars to go out of control.
"The Elantra whacked a building and the Civic hit a traffic light and a fire hydrant'' the captain.
Drugs or alcohol are not suspected in in the wreck, which is considered an accident, and it was not immediately known why the driver did not obey the light.
Authorities will be examining film taken from the traffic signals.
The two 57-year-old victims were inside the Elantra, possibly with one other occupant. The victims did not share the same last name, and police were speaking with relatives to find out what their relationship was, according to the captain.
The three others were inside the Honda, which sustained front and side side damaged while the other car had front, left side damage.
"They were smashed up bad,'' the captain said.
Responders initially transported six people in critical condition, said Fire Media Affairs Spokesman Richard Rosado-- two to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, two to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, one to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, and one to Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, said
An EMS Plan 1 was called for the crash, Rosado said.
No citations have been filed as of 8:30 a.m., Baety said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
