According to a Sun-Times breaking news story, a 59-year-old male pedestrian was killed after being struck by a semi-trailer truck on the northwest side in Chicago. The man was allegedly crossing the street at West Chicago and North Ashland avenue on Saturday night when he was fatally struck by an 18-wheeler semi-trailer truck. It is unclear whether the accident occurred at the intersection, as opposed to mid-block, and the cause of the accident is unknown. To consult with an experienced semi-trailer truck accident lawyer, call Passen & Powell at (312) 527-4500 for a free consultation.
The police department’s Major Accident Investigation Unit (MAIU) is investigating the cause of the pedestrian-truck accident. According to the news report, the police did not issue any traffic violation citations to the truck driver, at least as of 6 a.m. Sunday morning. However, the MAIU investigation may still reveal evidence of the truck driver’s negligence causing the accident. The man who was killed after being struck by the semi-truck was pronounced dead at Cook County Hospital, and an autopsy was scheduled for Sunday.
In related news, the Chicago Police Department announced that it is beginning another crackdown on motor vehicle drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Officials stated that police officers will deploy several enforcement strategies, including using undercover off-duty police officers pose as pedestrians walking in crosswalks. Drivers who fail to stop or yield to the pedestrians will be pulled over and ticketed by uniformed police officers farther down the street.
The “sting” operation will be launched in four areas with a history of vehicle-pedestrian crashes: River North, Austin, Wrigleyville (Lakeview) and 79th Street from about Ashland to the Dan Ryan Expressway. According to Chicago officials, this crackdown is part of a larger effort to reduce the number of accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians.