A tragic series of events unfolded in the west suburbs of Hillside, leaving a pedestrian dead and two officers injured, police say. According to Hillside Police Department Chief Dan Murphy, a 73-year-old man driving a Genesis SUV may have suffered a medical episode leading up to the crash, which occurred on Butterfield at Laverne. ABC 7 Chicago reported the officers, despite experiencing back and neck injuries from the collision, rushed to assist the pedestrian, with one of them performing CPR, Chief Murphy stated.
The chain reaction continued after the initial collision, with the vehicle crossing multiple lanes and eventually crashing into the Walgreens parking lot on Butterfield Road and Wolf Road. A witness described the crash as almost happening in "slow motion," with consecutive "crunch, crunch, crunch," sounds as the SUV collided with several cars, ABC 7 Chicago relayed words from witness Denise Roy. The 78-year-old pedestrian, who was entering the Walgreens at the time of the crash, was subsequently struck and fatally injured.
The aftermath of the incident was chaotic, with multiple people requiring medical attention. According to officials, at least eight individuals were taken to nearby hospitals, most facing minor injuries; among them was a 6-month-old baby, who, fortunately, appeared unharmed according to witness accounts in a statement obtained by ABC 7 Chicago. Meanwhile, WGN-TV stated that SkyCam 9 captured footage of the heavily damaged vehicles and the cordoned-off scene blanketed in police tape.
Following the incident, Walgreens issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to safety for all patrons and team members, and it is cooperating with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation. As reported by WGN-TV, "The safety of our patients, customers and team members is our highest priority," Walgreens commented post incident. Officials have urged the public to avoid the area during the intensive investigation period. The 73-year-old driver remains hospitalized, while the two officers have since been released and are recovering.
