Charges Pending For City Truck Driver Who Hit Pedestrians
CHICAGO (STMW) -- A city laborer lost control of a work truck and struck a toddler and several pedestrians --some of whom were models in a wedding photo shoot Saturday afternoon in the Gold Coast neighborhood.
Charges are pending for the motorist but have not been filed as of 9 a.m. Sunday, according to police News Affairs Officer Darryl Baety. Though they are expected to be felony charges, it was not disclosed what type of charges are forthcoming.
A child, about 2 years old, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Children's Memorial Hospital. Seven others were hurt, including two who were "very critically injured," police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli said.
One of the "very critically" injured victims was the toddler's caretaker, a woman in her 20s, Mirabelli said. She was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
The wreck happened about 12:20 p.m. at 6 E. Cedar St., Mirabelli said. It was not a hit-and-run.
"We had a vehicle that struck four adults and one child," Mirabelli. "The driver lost control."
A city Department of Streets & Sanitation worker driving a Ford F-150 work pickup truck north on State Street lost control of the truck at the three-way intersection of Rush, Cedar and State streets, Mirabelli said. It was not known why the driver lost control.
The pedestrians were on the southeast corner of that intersection.
"He collided with this photo shoot and any bystanders nearby," the officer said.
The motorist was among those hospitalized, but Mirabelli did not know how badly he was hurt. It was not immediately known if he had the green light at that intersection.
A photographer shooting several pedestrians modeling a wedding was also injured.
"The 'bride and groom' did not sustain life-threatening injuries," Mirabelli said.
The child was initially taken in serious to critical condition to Children's Memorial Hospital, Fire Media Affairs spokesman Richard Rosado said.
One other victim was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in serious to critical condition, Rosado said. Three people were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital -- two in serious to critical condition and one who was in good condition.
Three others were taken to Saint Joseph Hospital -- two in fair condition and another in good condition, Rosado said.
An EMS Plan I, which automatically sends at least five ambulances to the scene, was secured at 12:52 p.m., Rosado said.
No citations have been filed as of 3 p.m.
The police Major Accident Investigation Unit is investigating.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
