Secretary Of State: Driver In Deadly I-57 Crash Had No License

COUNTRY CLUB HILLS, Ill. (CBS) -- Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White says a crash that killed two south suburban teenagers in the early hours of New Years day should never have occurred.

As WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports, White says Tyon Groves, 16, should not have been behind the wheel. State police say he was speeding on Interstate 57 around 186th Street when he lost control just before 5 a.m. Sunday.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports

Groves, of the 100 block of Cloverleaf Road in Matteson, and his 17-year-old female passenger, Avocean Lewis of the 18800 block of Oakwood Avenue in Country Club Hills, were both killed. Three others were injured when the Mazda sport-utility vehicle rolled.

Under the state's graduated license system, new drivers are under all kinds of restrictions intended to prevent incidents like this.

But he says in this case, Groves didn't have a license at all.

"It's a sad day in Illinois when you have five young people who are either no longer with us, or are injured, as a result of someone driving who really should not have been a driver," White said.

Police continue to investigate whether drugs, alcohol or texting might have been involved. They say the SUV was reported stolen.

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• Jesse White
• I-57