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A man suspected of driving drunk reportedly killed one woman and left two other people hospitalized after a head-on crash on First Avenue in Riverside just after 10:30 p.m. on March 29.
The 27-year-old suspect, whose name has not yet been released, is in Riverside police custody awaiting felony charges from the Cook County State’s Attorney.
Police reported that witnesses to the crash stated the man was driving very fast and recklessly while southbound on First Avenue. Between 31st Street and Ridgewood Road, the man’s Ford Crown Victoria reportedly crossed the double yellow line and struck a white Land Rover head on.
A 57-year-old Chicago woman sitting in the front passenger seat of the Land Rover suffered severe head and upper body injuries and was pronounced dead at Loyola University Medical Center.
The woman’s 62-year-old sister, who was sitting in the rear passenger-side seat, also suffered severe head and neck injuries. She was hospitalized and underwent surgery at Loyola. Police describe her injuries as potentially life-threatening.
The driver of the Land Rover, a 44-year-old man, suffered a serious leg injury and remains hospitalized at Loyola. A 16-year-old boy in the back seat escaped injury. All of the victims were wearing their seatbelts, police said.
Meanwhile, the suspect’s Ford also struck a Dodge Caravan carrying a family of seven from Orland Park, including five siblings ranging in age from 28 to 14. All were examined by paramedics at the scene and released.
Firefighters had to extricate the driver of the Ford, which skidded across the roadway to the fence line of the Brookfield Zoo on the west side of First Avenue. After being extricated, the suspect attempted to flee on foot, according to police. He suffered cuts and brusies along with a broken nose, police said.
According to Police Chief Thomas Weitzel, the suspect has been uncooperative and gave police a false name after he was released to their custody early this morning. He had spent the night at Loyola. Police determined the man’s identity through fingerprints, Weitzel said, at about 9:30 a.m.
In addition, police said that the suspect has a revoked driver’s license and has been convicted previously for DUI.