Young Round Lake Beach Bicyclist Killed By Driver Identified

Jose Antonio Zamudio
Courtesy Daily Herald

Summer vacation had just started for 11 year old Jose Antonio Zamudio who was killed by the driver of a pickup truck yesterday as he rode his bike near his home in Round Lake Beach, according to the Daily Herald. He would have been an eighth grader at Round Lake Middle School located less than half a mile from the crash scene.  Teachers interviewed by the Herald fondly remembered Jose as a good student who was well-liked by everyone.

The incident occurred at the intersection of Lotus Drive and Rollins Road.  (Click here to learn more about the crash.)  Though the matter is still under investigation "a preliminary examination showed Zamudio died from massive head trauma," Lake County Coroner Artis Yancey told the Herald.  The news report stated that the boy was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.  However, the speed the truck was traveling at the time of the crash has not been reported.  It is not clear whether use of a helmet would have saved Jose's life. Neither state statute nor local ordinance required Jose to wear a helmet while riding his bike.

11 Year Old Bicyclist Killed By Driver In Round Lake Beach

A driver struck and killed an 11 year old boy as he rode his bicycle in Round Lake Beach yesterday evening, according to The Daily Herald.  The incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. at the intersection of North Lotus Drive and West Rollins Road, according to The Chicago Tribune.  Reportedly, the boy was riding southbound on Lotus Drive, across Rollins when he was struck by the west traveling vehicle. Rollins Road in that location divides densely populated residential neighborhoods to the north and south.  The intersection is home to several businesses, including a Dairy Queen, a Pizza Hut and a Family Video store.  A short distance to the north of the intersection -- about 500 yards -- are located Indian Hills Elementary School, Round Lake Middle School and Shagbark Nature Preserve.

The boy, whose name has not been released, was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center after the crash where he was pronounced dead a short time later.  The cause of the crash has not been reported, but the Major Crash Assistance Team of Lake County is assisting local police with an investigation, according to the Herald.

Driver Who Killed Eight Year Old Skokie Bicyclist Charged With DUI

Hanin Goma
Courtesy Chicago Tribune

The woman, Hanin Goma, who allegedly killed 8 year old Carter Vo with her vehicle as he rode his bicycle on a sidewalk in Skokie on Monday has been charged with felony DUI, according to The Chicago Tribune.  She has also been charged with a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of drugs.

Read more about this incident by clicking here.

UPDATE 12:31 P.M.:  The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Goma admitting smoking pot just hours prior to the crash.

14 Year Old Bicyclist Struck By School Bus In Humboldt Park Identified

Benjamin "Zack" Rossario's
bicycle following the crash

The neighbors and family of Benjamin "Zack" Rossario, 14, are in a state of shock after the boy was run down by a school bus as he rode his bike just west of the intersection of West Hirsch Street and North Kedzie Avenue in Humboldt Park.  Zack was riding along the right side of Hirsch when a bus operated by the Sunrise Bus Company struck him as he rode, according to his friend Lennox Johnson who was riding behind him.  The incident was witnessed by Socrates Vasquez, 28, who said that the bus was traveling too fast for the narrow residential street at the time of the crash.  After the initial impact, Zack was dragged several feet before coming to rest along with his crumpled bicycle along the right side of the road.  Bicycle parts and gouges in the street, along with the boy's blood, were visible at the scene.  Mr. Vasquez said he pulled Zack out from under the bus once it finally came to a stop.

Both Mr. Johnson and Mr. Vasquez said that the blood at the scene had come from Zack's badly fractured leg.  He was taken to Children's Memorial Hospital in serious to critical condition.

Gouges were left in the road after Zack
was dragged by the speeding bus, according
to witnesses.

Eight Year Old Bicyclist Killed By Driver While Riding Along Skokie Sidewalk

Carter Vo
Courtesy of Skokie-Review

Eight year old Carter Vo was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk after school on Monday afternoon when a car driven by a 23 year old Skokie woman jumped the curb and ran him down, killing him, according to the Skokie-Review.  The incident occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. near the intersection of Main Street and St. Louis Avenue.  The driver was allegedly traveling southbound on St. Louis attempting to turn left onto westbound Main when she hit an eastbound vehicle.  Southbound St. Louis is controlled by a stop sign.  East and westbound traffic on Main is not required to stop.  The collision reportedly caused the driver to lose control, careen onto the sidewalk nearby and hit Carter, carrying him and his bicycle several feet before crashing into a parked car and coming to a stop.  The boy lived on the 4600 block of Madison Street in Skokie.  He was dead at the scene.

Child Struck By Bus While Bicycling In Humboldt Park

A child is in serious to critical condition after being struck by a bus in Humboldt Park this afternoon, according to The Chicago Tribune.  The child was riding in the 3200 block of West Hirsch Street at around 4:00 p.m. when hit.  That section of street is close to the park, near Little Cubs Field.  It has not yet been reported what sort of bus struck the child who has been taken by paramedics to Children's Memorial Hospital.

Chicago Bicyclist Struck, Injured By Vehicle Of Tajikistan's Delegation During NATO Summit

The driver of a vehicle assigned to the delegation of the prime minister of Tajikistan struck and injured a bicyclist yesterday at the corner of State and Ohio Streets, according to the Chicago Tribune.  The incident occurred at 7:35 a.m. and the cyclist was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for treatment.

The prime minister was in Chicago to take part in the three day NATO summit, but represents of the delegation were reportedly not in the car at the time of the crash.

Details of the injuries were not reported though reportedly were not life threatening.

A big thank you goes to Mat Greten who alerted me to this incident.  He was working at the Starbucks at the corner of State and Ohio when he "saw a male cyclist lying on the ground in front of a black government vehicle."  He was, however, unable to ascertain the full nature and extent of the cyclist's injuries.