A Chicago street worker has pleaded guilty to a DUI that left seven people with injuries from scratches and bruises to broken bones and brain damage, and a baby in a stroller narrowly escaped with the aid of one of the more severely injured, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.
Memories of the May 21, 2011 accident were recalled in testimony from some of the injured. Of note, was “hero” J.A. who, with the aid of cane, entered the Cook County courtroom to take the witness stand.
J.A. shared with the court the moment when she and six others were struck by a city truck driven by on-duty city driver D.W. J.A. was pushing a stroller that held a toddler when she had moments to push the stroller away as the truck jumped a curb and drove into her.
J.A.. 26, said that the accident “forever changed my life” and then, breaking down into tears and having a hard time looking at D.W., gave her prepared speech to a prosecutor to read aloud.
J.A. has endured 12 surgeries alone – with more to come – to mend a broken pelvis and leg fractures.
D.W., 62, in custody in lieu of $400,000 bail since the crash, pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated DUI causing great bodily harm. He will face up to 12 years of prison time for each count.
J.A., outside of the courtroom said, “He's a person just like you, but he caused so much pain and so much hardship. I hope he knows what he did and understands.”
D.W. was employed by Chicago’s Department of Streets and Sanitation as a laborer, he has since been fired.
D.W. was working the day he crashed in the area of Cedar and Rush streets in the Gold Coast neighborhood. According to court documents, police on scene noted that D.W. smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes and was unsteady on his feet. Found in the vehicle, under the gas pedal, was an open bottle of brandy. His blood alcohol content proved to be 0.183 percent.
Assistant Public Defender Monique Patterson represented D.W. in court. Patterson said that her client was not due to work the day of the crash. He was called in, and though he had been drinking prior to reporting into work, he was afraid that if he didn’t take the shift he might loose his job.
Patterson said, “(M.W.) is deeply regretful about what occurred. He is willing to accept responsibility for the tragic accident that happened that day.”
The father of the 20-month old toddler hailed J.A. as a hero in the incident.
Among the other injured is a man that suffered brain damage, still requires extensive care and is relearning how to talk and walk.
Another injured man, S.W., 28, has a permanent titanium rod in his right leg after suffering with four fractured vertebrae. There were moments, S.W. recalled in his testimony, of being pinned under M.W.’s truck, where he felt “delusional to the point of wondering whether I was alive or dead.”
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