2 charged in Sunday’s fatal crash in Oak Lawn
By Bob Bong
A Harvey man and a Chicago woman have been charged in Sunday’s four-vehicle fatal crash at 110th Street and Cicero Avenue in Oak Lawn.
Steven Bradford, 39, of Harvey, and Joann McNary, 32, of Chicago, were each charged with one count of aggravated DUI involving death, and one count of reckless homicide.
Police said both Bradford and McNary were directly involved in the crash that killed Anita Chacon, 66, of Calumet Park and critically injured her son, Tomas Chacon, 30. Tomas Chacon remains hospitalized in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
Police said a 2019 Dodge Charger driven by Bradford and a 2014 Honda Accord driven by McNary were speeding down Cicero Avenue about 1:50 a.m. on August 21 when the accident took place.
A preliminary police investigation found that the Charger struck the rear of a Lincoln the Chacons were traveling in that was also traveling south on Cicero, forcing the Lincoln into the northbound lanes near 110th Street, where it struck a Ram pickup truck head-on. Anita Chacon was killed in the crash.
Police said that after striking the Lincoln, the Charger came to a stop near 110th and Cicero. The speeding Honda Accord left the roadway near 109th and Cicero and hit a bench, causing the vehicle to roll over numerous times before coming to a stop in a parking lot at 110th and Cicero.
Tomas Chacon was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center along with the female driver of the Ram pickup truck and the female driver of the Accord. The two women were treated and released.
Two male passengers in the Ram pickup were not injured in the crash.
Bradford was taken into custody at the scene.
Bradford and McNary were due at the Bridgeview Courthouse on Tuesday for a bond hearing.
The family of Anita Chacon has started a gofundme campaign to raise money for her funeral expenses as well as medical expenses for her son.
According to the campaign, Anita and Tomas had spent the evening together before their car was hit.
As of Tuesday morning, the fund had raised more than $3,000 toward a goal of $20,000.
“Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers for our family,” said Anita Chacon’s niece, Rosi Contreras, who is organizing the fundraiser.
To make a donation, visit “Anita Chacon and Tomas Chacon” on GoFundMe.
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