Illinois guitarist charged in fatal pedestrian accident

Illinois guitarist charged in fatal pedestrian accident

A 55-year-old man is dead after being hit by a car in a crosswalk on Chicago’s North Avenue on August 26 at 8:24 p.m. The pedestrian suffered multiple fractures and significant head trauma. The accident was witnessed by a police officer who was off-duty at the time.

The driver stopped his truck after the accident, and police officers at the scene said he appeared intoxicated and admitted to having had a few drinks. He refused a field sobriety test about 30 minutes after the incident, but a Breathalyzer test was done at 3:30 a.m. His blood-alcohol content was measured at .161 percent. The 33-year-old man, a guitarist for a local band, was taken into custody, and his bail was set at $200,000.

According to police reports, the pedestrian was hit as he was walking through North Avenue’s crosswalk. According to the assistant state’s attorney, the driver made no attempt to stop or change direction before hitting the pedestrian. Police estimates are that the impact speed was about 40 mph.

Drunk driving can lead to fatal accidents. Driving impaired is illegal in Illinois, as elsewhere, and charges may be filed. Regardless of whether or a suspected intoxicated driver is convicted criminally, they may be found liable for accidents in which they are involved via wrongful death suits.

The family of an individual killed in a pedestrian accident, in a case such as this, may experience financial distress due to medical and funeral costs as well as the loss of household income. If retained by a fatal accident victim’s family, an attorney would likely review available information on the incident to help establish negligence during civil litigation.

Source: CBS Chicago, “Man Charged With DUI For Fatally Striking Pedestrian In West Town“, August 26, 2014