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Street Renamed For Cop Who Died In Accident

EVANSTON, Ill. (STMW) -- Eighteen years after his death in a squad-car accident on the 3400 block of North Kimball Avenue, officer John Lyons had the 7200 block of West Summerdale Avenue named on the Northwest Side in his honor in a Dec. 11 ceremony.

On hand for the dedication in front of the house where the Lyons family has lived for the past 35 years were Lyons' widow, Carol, his two daughters, Carla and Katie, various other family members and friends, and Alderman Brian Doherty, 41st Ward.

According to Carla Lyons the family had been trying for years before launching a Facebook-page petition drive that collected 1,000 signatures asking for the honorary street name now common for firemen and policemen killed in the line of duty.

The request was turned over to Doherty, who said no slight was intended by the city, but that there had been a temporary moratorium on all new honorary street names several years ago "and we're only now catching up on the backlog."

Lyons, a 25-year police veteran, was a Belmont (19th) District field training officer responding to a call when his car skidded into a tree, then hit a light pole.

Lyons was thrown from the car into the middle of the street. A probationary patrolman who was riding with Lyons was treated at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. According to police records the surviving officer was not able to remember any details of the accident.

Lyons' badge was officially retired in 2006, Doherty said.

--Pioneer Press, via the Sun-Times Media Wire

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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