Thread: Semi's deadly crash into Chicago station probed

Semi's deadly crash into Chicago station probed


updated 2:46 p.m. ET April 26, 2008

CHICAGO - Police on Saturday were attempting to determine why a tractor-trailer rig barreled into a Chicago Transit Authority train station, killing two people and injuring 21.

Their investigation included questioning the 51-year-old truck driver, who was briefly hospitalized after the accident during the Friday evening rush hour.

The driver, who authorities said tested negative for alcohol, was led away in handcuffs after he was released from a hospital Friday night. He had not been charged with any crime as of Saturday morning, said police spokeswoman Laura Kubiak. She declined to identify the driver.


The truck careened off a nearby expressway and veered into the busy Cermak-Chinatown Red Line train station and a bus shelter.

The truck ended up wedged inside a stairwell leading from the street-level station to the elevated train's platform above. Two women died at the scene, police said.

At least one surveillance video camera captured the crash, said CTA spokeswoman Noelle Gaffney.

"We've turned those images over to police," Gaffney said.

'Heard the big bang'
Twenty-one people were taken to hospitals, fire department spokesman Larry Langford said. Eleven were in critical condition, four of them children, Langford. It was not immediately clear Saturday how many patients remained in hospitals.

If it hadn't been for a delay leaving work, said Elliott Reed, a 30-year-old bank security officer, he could have been one of the victims. He said he "heard the big bang and saw the truck go right into the station."

Most of those injured were in the bus shelter or the train station stairwell, said fire department spokeswoman Eve Rodriguez.

The truck didn't appear to slow down before the impact, witnesses said.

Engineers determined there was no structural damage to the overhead platform, but the stairs had significant damage, said CTA President Ron Huberman.

The station, just south of downtown, reopened Saturday but travelers were told to use a nearby auxiliary entrance because the main entrance and the stairwell were closed, Gaffney said.


The truck was operated by Whiteline Express Ltd. of Plymouth, Mich., the company confirmed Saturday. A company spokeswoman declined to comment.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24318627


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She declined to identify the driver.

Gosh I wonder why?


I'm holding out until I get further information about this so called accident. As history has shown us whenever they refuse to give details about the driver it always make one go "hmmm.....". If this is one of El Presidente Jorge friendly comprades who was driving that truck. God I hope that the families of the 2 who were killed and those who are injured sue the company and the state for all the money. Hit them in the pocket books where it hurts.

Tell me if I am wrong but accident reports are public record and can be obtained from the police dept. taking the report. So if any one living close would be interested in obtaining one that would be great.I am sure we all would be interested in seeing it.

Withholding information does not sound good does it? everyone watch for updates...I'd like to know if this company is in the Mexican truck pilot program!

Usually when they hide information it is not an American. If it was an American it would be all over the news day and night. We shall see.

It used to be that big-rig truck drivers were some of the best on the road. This one did not apprear to slow down...

The driver, who authorities said tested negative for alcohol, was led away in handcuffs after he was released from a hospital Friday night. He had not been charged with any crime as of Saturday morning, said police spokeswoman Laura Kubiak. She declined to identify the driver.

The driver tested negative for alcohol, and then led away in handcuffs after he was released from the hospital. WHY THE HANDCUFFS? Is it normal procedure to handcuff and arrest someone right after an accident, even if there were no drugs or alcohol involved?

I read here a while back that there was a school that was giving out Big Rig drivers licenses and just collected the fees....no training/testing involved....Hummmmmmmmmmmm

Originally Posted by grandmasmad

I read here a while back that there was a school that was giving out Big Rig drivers licenses and just collected the fees....no training/testing involved....Hummmmmmmmmmmm

Are not police arrests a matter of public record? The police department has a foia connection on their webpage.
Maybe someone could see if it is a way to get the information on that crash.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfaXfjlWdtA - the driver can be seen at about the :17 mark.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gham ... gD90B41680

Driver in fatal Chicago crash cited for negligent driving

36 minutes ago

CHICAGO (AP) — A truck driver was cited for negligent driving after his semitrailer rammed into a Chicago Transit Authority train station, killing two women and injuring 21 other people.

Donald Wells received the traffic ticket Sunday, police said. The investigation of the crash was ongoing, police said. The violation carries a maximum fine of $100, police said. Wells is due in court June 10.

His rig crashed during the Friday afternoon rush hour at the Cermak stop, which serves the city's Chinatown neighborhood south of downtown.

Most of the 21 injured had been in the bus shelter underneath the elevated train or in the stairwell, fire department spokeswoman Eve Rodriguez said. At least two people remained hospitalized Monday at Mount Sinai Hospital, and all were reported in good condition.

Elosia Guerrero, 47, and Delisia Brown, 18, died at the scene, the Cook County medical examiner's office said. At least three people remained hospitalized Sunday at Mount Sinai Hospital, and all were in fair condition.

Wells, of Metamora, Mich., was briefly hospitalized after his truck careened off an expressway. Police said a blood-alcohol test administered at the hospital was negative.

A message seeking comment was left Monday at a telephone listing for Wells in Michigan. Police said Wells is 64 years old, not 51 as previously reported.

The crash was captured by at least one surveillance camera, transit authority spokeswoman Noelle Gaffney said. The footage was turned over to police.

The Secretary of State's office has no record of previous traffic violations by Wells in Illinois, agency spokesman Dave Drucker said. Michigan authorities also had no record of violations.

The truck was operated by Plymouth, Mich.-based Whiteline Express Ltd., the company confirmed. A company spokeswoman declined to comment.