Legal news for Illinois automobile accident attorneys. A tragic two-vehicle wreck injured three pedestrians and killed another.
Chicago, IL—A horrific and violent crash left a pregnant woman dead and her child fighting for his life. The fatal two-vehicle crash, which also injured three other pedestrians, occurred on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 around 11:20 a.m., at the intersection of North Kostner Avenue and West Washington Boulevard, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
According to police officials, James Cox, 39, of the 4300 block of West Maypole Avenue, was driving a Chrysler Town and Country minivan southbound on North Kostner Avenue. Cox reportedly illegally drove through a red stop light signal at the West Washington Boulevard intersection, and collided with an eastbound 2003 Ford E-250 van. The Ford van then hit four pedestrians: Kim Brown, 27, of the 2900 block of West Cortez Street, and an unidentified 30-year-old woman and her two children, ages 1 and 3. Brown, who was six to seven months pregnant, was pronounced dead by doctors and nurses at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County. The doctors were able to save Brown’s unborn baby boy’s life, when they delivered the baby safely via emergency cesarean section. The infant boy is reported in “extremely critical” condition, due to his premature delivery and his injuries sustained in the wreck. The 30-year-old woman and her two children were transported by area emergency medical services (EMS) crews to Mount Sinai Hospital for treatment of their injuries. They are reportedly listed in good condition at this time. Cox was transported by EMS teams to Loretto Hospital for treatment and was later released. The driver of the Ford van was treated at the scene of the crash by responding EMS technicians, but refused to seek further treatment at the hospital.
Cox was cited by police officials for failure to obey a red light, driving on a revoked or suspended license and not having insurance. Cox was booked in the Harris District lockup while the crash is under investigation. Officials with the Major Accident Investigation Unit and Harrison Area detectives are conducting a full investigation into the fatal wreck.
Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for Illinois automobile accident lawyers.