Woman Killed, Two Critically Hurt In Pilsen Crash
Updated 01/24/11 - 12:50 p.m.
CHICAGO (STMW) - A city Department of Streets & Sanitation worker was killed and two other people were injured Saturday when a sport-utility vehicle and a stolen car plowed into each other early Saturday in the Pilsen neighborhood.
The crash happened about 1:30 a.m. in the 2100 block of South Damen Avenue and claimed the life of Candis Ricks, a 29-year-old mother of two who worked for the Department of Streets & Sanitation and was on duty at the time of the crash, officials and a family member said.
A Chicago police report said two juveniles were inside a stolen Ford Focus car that was westbound on 21st Street and hit the Ford Escape SUV Ricks was driving north on Damen Avenue. It was not immediately known who stole the car or who reported it stolen.
The impact caused both vehicles to jump the curb and go onto the sidewalk.
Fire department crews extricated the drivers of each vehicle, while a passenger in the Focus got out on his own, a police spokesman said.
Ricks was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 2:17 a.m.
The male driver of the Focus was in serious condition and a male passenger was in "stable" condition at Stroger Hospital, police said.
Ricks' father, David Johnson, said his daughter had worked for the Department of Streets & Sanitation for two years. Her job was to issue tickets for illegally parked cars, he said.
She had planned to buy a new car after her shift Saturday, Johnson said.
"She was just a lovely person and a joy to be around," he said.
Ricks was also "an education mom" who cared deeply about getting her children, ages 2 and 10, into the best schools, Johnson said.
Johnson said police haven't given the family any details about what caused the crash.
"It's kind of rough," he said. "We're just trying to hang in there."
The two juveniles were released without being charged by the Cook County State's Attorney's office because they could not be interviewed due to their medical conditions from the crash, according to the police report.
An autopsy is scheduled for later Monday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
