By Bob Bong
One man, one child and a visitor from England were all pedestrians struck by vehicles in the past week on Palos Heights streets.
Edward Durica, 80, was killed when he was struck by a Honda Pilot while crossing Harlem Avenue in the middle of the 12300 block after dining at the Highlander House restaurant Saturday night.
Witnesses said Durica was crossing westbound across Harlem and appeared not to look as he stepped out into traffic.
Police Chief William Czajkowski said Durica successfully made it across the northbound lanes, but he was struck as soon as he stepped into the southbound lanes.
Paramedics from the fire station, located half a block away, rushed to the scene and administered aid. Durica was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Czajkowski said the driver stopped immediately and stayed on the scene and spoke with police.
No tickets were issued.
“We were satisfied the driver was not impaired and the car’s black box showed he wasn’t speeding at the time of the accident,” Czajkowski said.
A young boy out trick-or-treating on Halloween was struck by a vehicle and injured about 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of Potawatomi and Shawnee.
Czajkowski said the boy suffered minor injuries.
The driver was not ticketed.
Czajkowski said the boy’s costume impeded his vision and he ran out into traffic.
On November 2, a woman visiting Palos Heights from England was struck while trying to cross Southwest Highway in the 11800 block.
Czajkowski said she was visiting someone at the Harmony Palos Heights nursing home and was heading across the street to the Dunkin Donuts when she was struck.
“She was crossing Southwest Highway to Dunkin when she was run over by a driver leaving Dunkin,” he said.
She suffered minor injuries and the driver was not ticketed.
Since when is it a child’s fault?
Jesus !
Slow Down People
It’s a child’s fault when he steps into a street without looking!
Is he really that stupid not to look for traffic? People need to use common sense and lookout for themself. If his costume was a problem didn’t he have enough sense to be extra careful?
Obviously he was old enough to be out in his own or with a group but still needs to be observant of this surroundings. This is what happens when one doesn’t pay attention. Now maybe he has learned the hard way to look out for himself.
Just because he was considered a child doesn’t excuse him from being vigilant.
Stupid, stupid kid!
Not the driver’s fault if idiot darted out without looking or seeing!