West 31st St Accident Kills Three Chicago Auto Accident

Three people died on Tuesday in a Southwest Side Chicago car accident. Authorities say that the crash happened around 8:30 p.m. by the intersection of West 31st Street and South Western Avenue. The victims were ages 40, 46 and 57 and all died at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Photos of the car accident show a red Jeep which landed upside down. Investigators say that the car may have hit a pole before overturning. It is unclear whether inclement weather or alcohol was involved in this crash.

The Major Accident Investigation Unit remained at the scene of the crash late into the night.

According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk driving killed more than 10,000 people in 2010. This is about one fatality every 51 minutes. NHTSA officials estimate that alcohol-related car accidents account for more than $37 billion in costs annually.

Costs associated with drunk driving crashes include medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.

According to West’s Smith-Hurd Illinois Compiled Statutes Annotated, the basis charge for an intoxicated driving offense in Illinois is a 0.08 blood alcohol level or any amount of marijuana, a controlled substance, or an intoxicating compound.

There are also many studies which show that individuals with blood alcohol levels under 0.8 percent are still more likely to be involved in fatal accident when compared to completely sober drivers.

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