Gofundme campaign started for family

By Bob Bong

A 3-year-old boy has died of injuries he suffered in a vehicle crash on July 16 at the intersection of 95^th Street and Ridgeland Avenue in Oak Lawn.

Matthew Dushenko passed away on July 18 at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn from injuries he suffered when the 2022 Toyota Sienna his family was traveling in was struck by a 2016 Jeep Cherokee driven by Paul Sutton, 43, of South Holland.

Police said both vehicles were heavily damaged in the collision and occupants of both vehicles needed extrication.

Police immediately began performing life-saving measures on the Matthew and Oak Lawn paramedics transported him to the hospital.

His father, Serhii Dushenko, was extricated from the vehicle by firefighters and also transported to the hospital where he was in critical condition. He has already undergone three surgeries. The mother, Tetiana Duskenko, was driving. She and her 7-year-old son, Daniel, were treated and released.

Sutton was ejected half-way through his vehicle’s windshield and needed to be extricated by Oak Lawn firefighters before being transported to Christ hospital in critical condition.

Investigators said that Sutton was traveling west on 95th Street at speeds in excess of 100 mph before entering the intersection and striking the passenger side of the Toyota.

Police said Sutton was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol count of .196, more than two times the legal limit. An open bottle of alcohol was also found inside his vehicle.

After reviewing the circumstances of this tragic incident, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved felony charges against Sutton that include: aggravated DUI involving death, aggravated DUI causing great bodily injury, aggravated DUI revoked or suspended for DUI, and a misdemeanor charge of aggravated speeding. Sutton also was wanted on an active arrest warrant for aggravated driving while license suspended or revoked.

Sutton appeared at the Markham Courthouse on July 19 and was ordered held without bail. His next scheduled court date is August 15 at the Bridgeview Courthouse.

A gofundme campaign has been started for the family to help pay funeral costs and medical bills. As of Friday, it had raised $64,705 toward a goal of $75,000.