Auto accident attorneys at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm report of a recent crash in downtown Chicago, during which an 11-month old girl was ejected from a vehicle. Fortunately, the infant is currently in stable condition at a local hospital.
The crash occurred a little after 2 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, on the 600 block of North Dearborn Street. A semi truck reportedly blew a red light and crashed into an eastbound 1999 GMC Jimmy, in which the infant was riding without a car seat. She was ejected from the SUV and taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital. Neither of the other drivers was injured, though they were both issued citations.
The semi truck driver was cited for failing to stop at a red light, and the driver of the SUV, 31-year-old Cresencio Acuna, was cited for failing to properly restrain the infant, and for not having a valid driver’s license. It was not immediately clear what the relationship between the infant child and Acuna was.
The night before, on Monday the 13th, a woman was arrested in Chicago after she allegedly hit a CPD officer with her car and dragged her during a traffic stop on the South Side. The officer is being treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. She has been on the CPD force for at least five years.
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The incident took place just after 9 p.m. on the 8300 block of South Kerfoot. The Gresham District police officer pulled a vehicle over for a routine traffic violation, and as the officer approached, the driver struck her in the face and sped away. The vehicle hit the officer and dragged her a little ways down the road. About a dozen police cars escorted the officer’s ambulance to Northwestern. Area South detectives are currently investigating the incident and charges are pending against the driver.
In a third troubling story from the Chicagoland area, a limousine driver was recently charged with driving more than 20 teens to their high schools prom with a blood alcohol content (BAC) nearly three tiems the legal limit. The man was arrested after being given a Breathalyzer test, which showed his BAC to be .22% (the legal limit is .08).
The 54-year-old driver, working for Limos Alive in Alsip, was driving the teens from Oswego East High School to their prom at a banquet hall close to Glen Ellyn. The teenagers became concerned when his driving became more and more erratic. They called their parents, who then alerted the police.
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Students stated that the driver backed into a ditch, nearly caused several crashes by cutting off three separate cars, and repeatedly slammed on the brakes. The driver initially proclaimed his innocence, blaming mechanical problems for his erratic driving. In a brief interview he stated that the limo bus needed wheel alignment, which is why its movements were so sudden.
A spokesperson for Limo Alive refuted that there were any mechanical problems with the limo bus, further stating that the driver had been fired. He will now face misdemeanor charges of drunk driving and reckless conduct.
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In related news, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently voted to lower the blood alcohol limit for driver to .05%. The measure was taken in advancement of its campaign to reduce drinking-related road deaths through stricter enforcement. Currently, all 50 states have the BAC limit set at .08. The NTSB does not have the authority to change state laws, however, its backing of the lower limit could add pressure to legislators.
Drinking-related driving deaths make up 30% of all U.S. roadway fatalities, and in a 2011 AAA survey, about 15% of drivers admitted to driving when they were close to or over the legal limit. Auto accident attorneys at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm encourage American drivers to stay up-to-date on new legislation and enforcement regarding our roadways. If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a crash caused by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to significant compensation for any medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
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