CHICAGO, IL – A horrific traffic accident occurred in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood early Saturday, causing one death and three injuries. According to Chicago Police, a CTA bus was hit by a driver who ran a red light, causing the bus to crash into a building.
Authorities revealed that the 18-year-old male driver was moving westward on West 26th Street around 4 a.m. when he failed to stop at a red light, hitting the northbound CTA bus. The impact sent the bus off the road and into a storefront, where it came to a halt.
Surveillance footage captured the accident and the moments prior to it, showing several people crossing the road just seconds before the collision.
The driver held responsible for the accident later died at Mount Sinai Hospital. His passenger, a 21-year-old woman, was also taken to the same hospital and reported in good condition. Both women, the driver, and a passenger on the CTA bus are in good condition at local hospitals.
Amparo Galan, one of two passengers on the bus at the time of the crash, was thrown from her seat, injuring her leg and side. She expressed gratitude to be alive while in recovery at the hospital.
Another local resident, Mary, a street vendor, expressed her belief in divine intervention noting she normally sets up her stand across the street right where the bus crashed.
The crash caused collapse of part of the building’s façade, leading to debris, including bricks, scattering onto the road. Officials are inspecting the damaged building while street sanitation workers clear the debris.
The name of the deceased driver was not immediately released and no citations have been issued yet by the police.