An 18-year-old woman has died and a 19-year-old man is recuperating after a late-night traffic collision on Lower Wacker Drive, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Loop area, a red Jeep Wrangler attempting a left turn was hit by a black 2004 Pontiac GTO that allegedly ran a red light, causing the fatal crash.
The passenger of the Pontiac, whose identity has not been publicly released, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital but tragically was pronounced dead shortly after midnight. The driver, from Indiana, suffered trauma to his body and is currently listed in fair condition at Northwestern, according to reports by the Sun-Times. The Pontiac was reported to have lost control before the collision occurred, suggesting that the situation may have quickly escalated beyond the driver's ability to safely recover.
Meanwhile, occupants of the Jeep Wrangler escaped the accident unharmed, as indicated by police. At the moment, details about the circumstances leading to the crash are sparse, no citations have been issued, and the investigation continues. The Chicago Police Department Major Accident Detectives are following up on the incident to ascertain further details.
As further details emerge, questions about traffic safety on Lower Wacker Drive and the intersection where the incident occurred have begun to surface, yet the incident reported by WGN-TV reflects an all too common tale of a night that started with routine travel and tragically ended with irreversible consequences. With no arrests made nor citations issued as of yet, the community and the victims' families are left to anxiously await what may come to light in the ongoing investigation.
