Pedestrian Killed

43-Year-Old Woman Killed in Englewood Pedestrian Accident

englewood pedestrian accidentA 43-year-old woman has been killed and several other people have been injured in an Englewood pedestrian accident on the South Side of Chicago.

Englewood Pedestrian Accident After Traffic Stop

Shortly before noon on February 22, 2021, a silver Chevrolet SUV was traveling south at a high rate of speed in the 7300 block of South Racine Avenue in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. At Racine Avenue’s intersection with 74th Street, the SUV ran a red light and collided first with a westbound red Jeep and then with a female pedestrian.

The woman, later identified as 43-year-old Lakisel Thomas, had been walking north on the west side of Racine Avenue when she was struck. She was tossed into the air by the force of the impact before she landed on the sidewalk.

Authorities and emergency responders arrived at the location of the Englewood pedestrian accident shortly afterward. Ms. Thomas was transported to St. Bernard Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 12:13 p.m. from her injuries, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

The 19-year-old male driver of the SUV and his 18-year-old male passenger reportedly attempted to run away from the scene, but both were taken into custody by the Chicago Police Department.

In addition to Lakisel Thomas, several other people were injured in the Englewood pedestrian accident. The Jeep’s driver was transported to Holy Cross Hospital with back, knee, and neck pain. The front passenger of the Jeep was taken to St. Bernard Hospital with pain to the right wrist, back, and head, while the rear passenger was taken to the same facility with pain in the back and arm. The 18-year-old SUV passenger was also treated at St. Bernard Hospital for right leg pain.

The Chicago Police Department’s Major Accidents Unit is investigating whether the Englewood pedestrian accident was the result of a pursuit that started two blocks north when the SUV allegedly bolted from a traffic stop. Charges have not yet been filed, though one of the two men in the SUV may have been armed.

Pedestrians Face Greater Danger in Traffic Accidents

Each year across the United States, thousands of pedestrians sustain serious, sometimes fatal injuries in crashes. While pedestrians are only involved in about 16 percent of total traffic accidents, they face a far greater danger of getting severely hurt or killed when they happen; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely than vehicle occupants to die in these incidents. In 2016 alone, 5,987 pedestrians were killed in domestic collisions – the equivalent of one fatality every 90 minutes.

An exposed human body can suffer devastating injuries from the impact of thousands of pounds of metal, even at relatively low speeds. When motor vehicles travel at higher speeds, both the probability of a pedestrian getting struck and the severity of the resultant injuries can increase dramatically.

Chicago Lawyers Fighting for Injured Pedestrians

If you get hit by a car or truck while you are traveling on foot, your life could change in an instant. Before you know it, your medical bills could be spiraling out of control while your income grinds to a halt because you are physically unable to return to work. Soon you and your family may find yourselves on the edge of fiscal ruin, all because of the thoughtless actions of a negligent driver.

At GWC Injury Lawyers LLC, we believe this is wrong. That is why our team of pedestrian accident attorneys has been working for more than four decades to obtain full and fair compensation for the innocent victims of pedestrian accidents.

And with over $2 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements, GWC has earned its reputation as one of the leading Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation law firms in Illinois. No other plaintiff firm in the state is more respected – or more feared – by its adversaries, both inside and outside of the courtroom. GWC’s Chicago car accident lawyers can help get you the justice you deserve.

Contact GWC today to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation with one of our dedicated personal injury attorneys. You may call our office at (312) 464-1234 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.

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