Imagine driving your family in a car somewhere in Illinois. Now imagine being involved in an car accident in which every family member inside the vehicle with you was killed – but you survived. It’s nearly impossible to fathom the amount of grief and guilt you would feel regardless of how the wreck occurred.A 24-year old woman is dealing with that immeasurable pain today after a weekend collision in Cook County which claimed the lives of her mother, father, and sister. Around 8:30pm Sunday evening, the woman was driving her family home from dinner in a 2001 Toyota Camry. While traveling southbound on South La Grange Road in Orland Park, the car tried to make a left turn onto eastbound 171st Street when it struck a street sweeper and then careened into a 1998 Ford Ranger. The woman’s 15-year old sister, 49-year old mother, and 62-year old father all died from their injuries. The drivers of the street sweeper and the Camry were both transported to nearby hospitals with injuries. No one was injured in the Ranger.At this time, police are not sure exactly what caused the auto accident. But the intersection where the incident took place is controlled by traffic lights. If the street sweeper did run a red light, then the driver and the company who owns the machine would be held responsible for the deaths of the three family members. This legal action, which would be filed by the driver (or her older sister, who was not in the car), could entitle the plaintiffs to receive reimbursement for medical and burial expenses, compensation for lost future wages, and damages for emotional anguish and loss of care and companionship. But if the blame is placed entirely on the 24-year old woman, no such lawsuit would be filed.
UPDATE: Surviving Family Files Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit